MANILA — Malacañang sharpened its stance against calls for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to step down, claiming on Monday that the push is coming from individuals who may be implicated in the government’s sweeping flood control corruption probe.
“Napakaliit ng grupo nitong gustong pababain ang Pangulo,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting secretary Dave Gomez said in an interview with DZMM. “Hindi ba obvious ‘yung mga gustong magpapaba ay ‘yung mga tatamaan?”
Gomez said the administration is monitoring personalities allegedly attempting to destabilize the government, stressing that “it would be remiss” for any administration not to keep an eye on efforts aimed at undermining it.
He dismissed the social media videos of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been posting allegations attempting to tie Marcos to the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.
“Sabi ni BBM, he will not even dignify the accusations dahil napakaraming loopholes nung script. Katawa-tawa… Hindi namin ito pinapansin,” Gomez said.
The PCO chief also questioned Co’s claim that the President supposedly sought a P100-billion insertion in the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference committee instead of placing it in the National Expenditure Program.
“Pwede naman niyang gawin from the very start,” he said.
Gomez challenged Co to return to the country and testify under oath before proper authorities if he truly has evidence.
He noted that it was Marcos himself who first revealed the irregularities in flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address, including naming 15 contractors that cornered P100 billion worth of projects in three years.
Since then, Gomez said, the Palace has rolled out several measures: the Sumbong sa Pangulo platform for reporting suspicious infrastructure activities, a reshuffle at the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, suspension of contractors’ licenses, the replacement of Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, seizure of luxury vehicles owned by the Discaya couple, and the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
According to Gomez, the President remains firm on his vow to see suspects in the flood control scam behind bars before Christmas and to recover public funds allegedly lost to corruption./PN
