President Marcos is angered by reports that lawmakers are demanding kickbacks of up to 25 to 30 percent from infrastructure projects, Malacañang said.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after embattled contractor Curlee Discaya compared alleged commission rates across administrations—10 percent under the recent Aquino administration, 12 to 15 percent under former president Rodrigo Duterte, and now 25 to 30 percent.

In a press briefing, Castro said the kickback figures should not be seen as a point of comparison but as proof of deepening abuse in the system.

“Galit po ang Pangulo sa ganyan (The President is angry at that),” she said on Wednesday, Sept. 24

“Hindi po dapat ipagmalaki na napakalaki ng naki-kickback o nagiging komisyon ng mga public officials na ito, kaya po galit ang Pangulo (This should not be bragged about—that public officials get such big kickbacks. That is why the President is angry),” she added.

Asked why kickbacks allegedly ballooned from 10 percent to as much as 30 percent, Castro pointed to plain avarice.

“Wala pong nakikitang kung anumang dahilan. Siguro sobra lang pong ganid ang mga public officials na ito at walang kabusugan (We see no reason for this. Perhaps these public officials are simply too greedy and insatiable),” she said.

Castro said Marcos ordered the ongoing probe into flood control projects precisely because of these abusive practices.

The Palace official underscored that the President would not tolerate corruption that burdens taxpayers and stalls development projects.

Castro also responded to Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, who criticized the government’s failure to provide counterpart funding for foreign-assisted projects, leading to delays and embarrassment with international partners.

“Muli, ito po ang ayaw ng Pangulo. Ang budget na inilalaan ay para sa bayan at sa taumbayan (Again, this is what the President dislikes. The budget is allocated for the people and the nation),” Castro said.

She added that Marcos aims to ensure government obligations for such projects are met, promising that counterpart funding will be prioritized under his administration.

“‘Yan po talaga ang adhikain ng Pangulo (That is really the President’s goal),” she said.