MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is shelving his trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), choosing instead to dig into urgent problems at home — the anomalous multibillion-peso flood control projects and the relentless spike in basic commodity prices.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro shot down speculation that the President’s withdrawal was tied to safety threats.
“Wala po na direct threat sa buhay ng Pangulo pero hindi po sila magiging kampante sa pagsiguro at bigyan ng seguridad ang buhay ng Pangulo,” she told reporters.
Marcos had been lined up for the high-level meetings in New York from September 22 to 30. But Castro said the Chief Executive wanted his full attention on domestic crises, most notably the work of the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) probing questionable flood control projects.
“Lalo na kabubuo pa lamang ng ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) at ito’y dapat matutukan ng Pangulo para mas mabilis na pag-aksiyon sa mga nari-report na maanomalyang flood control projects,” Castro explained.
She stressed that taming runaway prices is also front and center on Malacañang’s agenda.
“Maliban diyan, at siyempre dapat tutukan pa rin ano ba ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan, ang mga bilihin para mapababa at marami pang iba. Bilang Presidente, maraming trabaho ang Pangulo,” she added.
The Palace further dismissed claims that Marcos’s decision was linked to anti-corruption rallies scheduled on September 21. Castro said the President views demonstrations as an essential part of democracy.
“Hindi naman po nangangamba ang Pangulo dahil alam po niya na ang pagpuprotesta ng taumbayan ay tungkol sa paglaban sa korapsiyon. At binanggit din po niya kahapon na siya mismo ang nagsimula upang mapaimbestigahan itong mga maanomalyang flood control projects,” she said.
In fact, Castro noted, Marcos sees protesters as allies in his anti-graft crusade.
“Alam po niya na ang magpuprotesta dito ay kakampi rin po niya, kakampi sa kaniyang adhikain. Dahil sabi nga po niya kahapon, kung hindi siya presidente, malamang ay makakasama rin siya sa pagprotesta laban sa korapsiyon,” she added./PN
