MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared there will be “no sacred cows” in the sweeping investigation of anomalous flood control projects, vowing that even House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other political allies will not be spared.
“There is only one way to do it: They will not be spared,” Marcos stressed when asked about Romualdez and other lawmakers linked to alleged budget insertions. “Anybody will say, ‘Wala tayong kinikilingan.’ Wala namang maniniwala sa iyo hanggat gawin mo.”
The President recently created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate substandard or non-existent projects flagged in the flood control program.
The panel is composed of former Justice Andres Reyes, former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, SGV country managing partner Rossana Fajardo, and Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong.
Marcos said the body will operate free of Palace interference.
“Hindi kami makikialam sa trabaho nila. We are not going to direct them as to how they will conduct their investigations,” he said. “We have to make it nothing less than a turning point in the conduct of governance in the Philippines… We have to make a change, a fundamental change in the way we do business.”
The scandal widened after Navotas City:s Cong. Toby Tiangco, a cousin-in-law of the President, accused Romualdez and former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co of pushing billions in dubious insertions.
“The problem here is not the amount, the problem here is the use of those funds,” Marcos said. “Simple lang ito: Magkano ang ninakaw na pera ng mga balasubas na ito?”
The President acknowledged mounting public anger over corruption.
“Do you blame them for going out to the street? If I wasn’t President, I might be out in the streets with them,” he said. “Of course they are enraged, they are angry. I’m angry. We should all be angry because what’s happening is not right.”
Marcos said demonstrations should be allowed if peaceful.
“Express it… you make your feelings known to these people… make them answerable for the wrongdoings that they have done. Sigawan ninyo… lahat mag-demonstrate, just keep it peaceful,” he added.
He assured Filipinos the probe will deliver justice.
“I want to show that there is justice. I want to show that there is fairness. I want to hold these people accountable. So, I don’t blame them, not one bit,” he said.
The ICI has begun daily meetings, with full discretion on when and how its findings will be released./PN
