President Marcos said he understood the public anger over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, declaring that he might even join demonstrations himself if he were not in office.

The President said this amid recent protest actions against corruption in government infrastructure projects, and a large demonstration set for Sept. 21, the anniversary of his namesake father's declaration of martial law.

In a press conference in Malacañan on Monday morning, Sept. 15, Marcos said the people had the right to be enraged with what was happening.

“If I wasn’t president, I might be out in the streets with them,” Marcos told reporters.

“Of course, they are enraged. Of course, they are angry. I am angry! We should all be angry! Because what’s happening is not right,” he added.

Marcos said he shared the public’s clamor for accountability.

“Do you blame them for going out into the streets? To show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness, what’s wrong with that?” he said.

“I want to show that there’s justice. I want to show that there is fairness. I want to show, I want to hold these people accountable, just like they do. So I don’t blame them. I don’t blame them. Not one bit,” he added.

He encouraged Filipinos to make their voices heard and confront those responsible for alleged corruption.

“Palaman ninyo, palaman ninyo ang sentimyento ninyo, palaman ninyo kung paano nila kayo sinaktan, kung paano nila kayo ninakawan nitong mga ito (Express your sentiments, tell them how they hurt you, how they stole from you),” the President said.

“Palaman ninyo sa kanila, sigawan ninyo, lahat gawin ninyo, mag-demonstrate, just keep it peaceful (Tell it to them, shout at them, do everything, demonstrate—just keep it peaceful),” he added.

Marcos warned that authorities would be compelled to act if demonstrations turned violent, similar to recent movements seen in Nepal or Indonesia.

“Kasi pagka hindi na peaceful, eh mahirap na ‘yan (If it’s not peaceful, things will be difficult). Eh, we will have to, the police will have to do its duty to maintain peace and order,” he said.

Malacañang has assured the public that President Marcos respects the people's freedom of expression, but hopes that protests remain free from groups that may exploit them for destabilization.

The protests have come in the wake of Executive Order No. 94, which created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate anomalies in flood control and other projects. Marcos earlier assured that the ICI would be “completely independent.”