MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dismissed allegations that senators facing criminal complaints and investigations are being targeted because of their political affiliations, insisting that the cases stem from evidence uncovered by government probes and testimonies linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Marcos made the statement amid growing questions over the legal troubles confronting several lawmakers, including Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who was issued an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan, and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing a possible plunder complaint related to campaign finances.
The President stressed that the investigations were initiated because of allegations raised against the individuals involved and not because they belong to a particular political bloc in the Senate.
“It was because of the allegations that were made and the investigations that were conducted upon learning of those allegations against whoever,” Marcos said.
Marcos noted that the investigations had already been underway even before the 13-member Senate majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano assumed control of the chamber.
According to the President, the ongoing probes are part of the administration’s efforts to determine the truth behind alleged flood control anomalies and to hold accountable those who may have been involved.
He pointed out that there have been repeated public calls for government agencies, particularly the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, to act more decisively on complaints and allegations surrounding the controversy.
Marcos expressed confidence that due process would ultimately determine the innocence or guilt of those accused.
“Now, the truth is slowly coming out. If cases are filed and they did nothing wrong, that will come out during the proceedings,” he said.
The President also made it clear that the government’s investigation into the alleged flood control irregularities is far from over.
“This is not over. Investigations, intelligence gathering, and information gathering on various allegations against different individuals will continue,” he said.
Marcos emphasized that the filing of cases has no connection to whether a lawmaker belongs to the Senate majority or minority.
He said the names of those implicated surfaced through testimonies presented before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and through findings generated by investigations conducted by government agencies.
The President added that political alliances often change over time, making it unreasonable to conclude that legal actions are influenced by shifting political alignments within the Senate.
The remarks came as the administration continues to face scrutiny over the timing of cases involving several senators, with critics questioning whether the legal actions could have political implications. Marcos, however, maintained that the investigations are evidence-based and that the judicial process should be allowed to proceed without political interpretation./PN
