President Marcos is closely monitoring the ongoing protests across the country, Malacañang said Sunday, Sept. 21, as it assured the public that their right to freely express dismay over corruption will not be curtailed.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President is on top of the situation.

“Sa ngayon, definitely po, nagmo-monitor ang Pangulo dahil kailangan din po ng peace and order, at kailangan din po na maging matiwasay ang pagpo-protesta (The President is definitely monitoring the situation because peace and order must be maintained),” she said.

“Kaya nga po hindi niya tinuloy ang kanyang pagbibiyahe para malaman din niya at madinig niya kung ano ang tunay na hinaing ng taong bayan (That is why he did not continue with his trip—to listen to the true grievances of the people), she added, referring to the President’s cancelled trip to New York this weekend for the United Nations General Assembly.

Castro assured the public that Marcos respects human rights, but appealed for sobriety as they aired their grievances.

“Ang human rights ay talagang pinapahalagahan po ng Pangulo kaya po kayo ay malaya sa inyong pagpapahayag (The President values human rights, so you are free to express yourselves),” she said.

“Huwag lamang pong aabuso o lalabag sa batas kasi nandiyan po rin—kung meron po kayong karapatang pantao, meron din po kayong obligasyon para po sundin kung ano yung batas (Just do not abuse this right or break the law, because with rights also come obligations to follow the law),” she added.

“Ang nais lamang ng Pangulo ay ’wag lumabag sa batas. At kung ano mang gagawin nilang pagpo-protesta ay sana ay naaayon sa batas (The President only asks that protesters do not break the law, and that their actions remain lawful),” she continued.

This appeal extends to groups planning to insert their political agenda into the rallies, saying they could dilute the people’s legitimate call to end corruption.

“Yun nga ang kinakatakutan ng iba at pinapangambahan dahil itong mga lehitimong adhikain ng mga tao para masawata ang korapsyon ay baka mahaluan ng pang-personal na agenda (That is the fear—that the people’s legitimate aims to curb corruption may be mixed with personal agendas),” Castro said.

“Maging mapagmatyag lang ang mga tao rin mismo at ang mga kapulisan natin (Citizens and the police alike must stay vigilant),” she added.

Asked about calls from some groups to hold the President accountable, Castro noted that it was Marcos himself who initiated the corruption probe into anomalous flood control projects after witnessing their impact during recent typhoons and monsoon rains.

“Anong klaseng pagpapanagot ang gusto nila? Ang Pangulo mismo ang nagpasimula ng pag-iimbestiga na ito dahil nakita niya ang dulot ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects (What kind of accountability do they want? The President himself initiated the investigation after seeing the effects of these anomalous flood control projects),” she said.

She added that, unlike in the past when “ghost projects” went unchecked, this administration has chosen to act.

“Tutok lamang tayo sa totoong mga pangyayari sa ngayon. Tutukan natin kung sino talaga ang dapat managot, at huwag mag-evade sa liability (Let’s focus on the real events now. Let’s hold accountable those who are truly responsible, and not evade liability),” Castro said.

The Palace official reiterated that Marcos is one with the public in expressing anger over the alleged abuse of public funds and understands why they are taking their demands to the streets.

“Katulad ng sinabi ng Pangulo natin, ang malayang pagpapahayag ng kanilang damdamin ay hindi yan hahadlangan ng Pangulo (As the President said, he will not hinder the free expression of the people’s sentiments),” she said.

“Sabi nga niya noon, kung siya ay hindi naging presidente at hindi siya presidente ngayon ay malamang nasa kalsada rin siya upang ipahayag ang kanyang pagkadismaya sa malawakang pang-aabuso sa pondo ng bayan (He even said before that if he were not president, he would likely be in the streets himself to express dismay over the widespread misuse of public funds),” she added.

Meanwhile, Castro hoped that government officials joining the protests would not go against the government.

“Mas okay sana na ‘wag na silang lumabas kasi kung makaka-cause sila ng kung anumang traffic or what (It’s better if they don’t go out to not add to the traffic jam or what),” she said.

“Pero kung sila ay magpapahayag ng kanilang damdamin, hindi dapat ito kokontra kung ano yung minimithi ng gobyerno (But if they want to, it shouldn't contradict what the government is aiming for),” she added.