Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said the President is focused on his responsibilities, especially in going after the people behind the massive flood control anomalies.
"Ang Presidente, ang ating Pangulo, hindi madi-distract sa mga ganyang panawagan. Meron siyang responsibilidad na dapat gampanan at ito ay tugusin yung mga may sala dito sa anti-corruption na ito at gagawin ng Pangulo natin 'yan (The President, our President, will not be distracted by such calls. He has a responsibility to fulfill, and that is to go after those who are guilty in this anti-corruption effort, and he will do that), Gomez said in an interview with DZMM on Sunday, Nov. 30.
At the same time, Gomez said the Palace acknowledged the growing public frustration over the flood control scandal and the surge of protests across the country, but noted that the government remains committed to addressing the issue thoroughly and responsibly
"He will not be distracted. Although yung mga calls na 'yan, yung mga reklamo ng sambayanan, nararamdaman namin, naririnig namin sila. Alam naming galit sila, alam naming naiinip sila (Although those calls, those complaints from the public — we feel them, we hear them. We know they are angry, we know they are growing impatient)," Gomez added.
"But this is what I can say: we hear you. We feel you and we will not disappoint you. The President will not disappoint you," he further said.
The Press secretary pointed out that in the case of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, it took about a year for charges to be filed in court.
However, only a few months after President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) have recommended the filing of graft charges and sent to jail a number of alleged involved in ghost and anomalous flood control projects.
“Ngayon tatlong buwan pa lang simula nung binunyag ng ating Pangulo ito at marami nang nakasuhan at marami pang makakasuhan at meron ng mga nakulong (It has only been three months since the President revealed this, and many have already been charged, many more will be charged, and some have already been jailed)," Gomez noted.
"At pangako nga ng Pangulo natin, bago mag-Pasko, mas marami pang makukulong. Kasama na diyan yung mga tinatawag nilang big fish (And as our President promised, before Christmas, even more will be imprisoned, including those they call the big fish)," Gomez added.
Gomez also maintained that the President will not dignify the claims of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the accused in the flood control case, stressing that Co must “return to the country to face the music, to face his arrest warrant, and swear under oath all these allegations.”
Meanwhile, Gomez said Marcos is closely monitoring protest actions sparked by the flood control corruption scandal.
“The President and the entire administration are monitoring the rallies. Kami in the government, we respect the people's right to peaceably assemble and express their anger and frustration over these flood control issues. Kaisa nila kami,” Gomez said in an interview with ANC on Sunday.
“Ito (protest actions) ay parte ng kanilang freedom of speech. So kami patuloy lang nagmo-monitor at sana manatiling mapayapa ‘yung mga rally at maging vigilant lang tayo na bantayan natin ‘yung ating mga hanay sa mga may masamang balak na manggulo (These protest actions are part of their freedom of speech. So we will continue monitoring, and we hope the rallies remain peaceful. Let us also stay vigilant and watch over our ranks against anyone who may have malicious intentions to cause trouble)," the PCO chief added.
On Sunday, protest actions are being held in Luneta and Mendiola in Manila, and at the People's Monument on EDSA, calling for accountability over flood control project anomalies.