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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hold Marcos accountable? Palace says he won't object if there's clear evidence linking him to flood control mess

Hold Marcos accountable? Palace says he won't object if there's clear evidence linking him to flood control mess

Published Dec 1, 2025 03:24 pm
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Whatever evidence that may link President Marcos to the flood control anomalies, he will not object to it.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement, emphasizing that any move to hold Marcos accountable for the massive flood-control corruption scandal must be supported by clear evidence directly linking him to it.
"Ang ICI po ay isang independent commission. Kung ano po ang maibibigay sa kanilang maliwanag na ebidensya, wala naman pong pagtututol ang Pangulo diyan (The ICI is an independent commission. Whatever clear evidence is presented to them, the President has no objection to that)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Dec. 1.
"Kung sasabihin po natin na command responsibility, siguro magbigay na lang po sila kung paano nila mail-link ang Pangulo patungkol dito (If we are to invoke command responsibility, then perhaps they should explain how they can link the President to this anomalies)," Castro added.
Among the calls raised during the Trillion Peso March was to hold the President accountable by virtue of command responsibility, if not by virtue of direct link.
The Palace official has once again stressed that it was the President who exposed the multi-billion peso anomalies and initiated an investigation through the ICI.
"Tandaan po natin ang Pangulo ang nagpasimula nito. Hindi mabubukas ang ating isipin, hindi mabubukas ang ating mga mata, hindi mabubukas ang ating tenga kung hindi mismo si Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang nagpasimula ng pag-iimbestiga na ito. Nais ng Pangulo na managot ang dapat na managot (Let us remember that it was the President who initiated this. Our minds would not have been opened, our eyes would not have been opened, our ears would not have been opened if President Marcos Jr. himself had not started this investigation. The President wants those who should be held accountable to be held accountable)," Castro said.

At his weakest?

The Palace press officer also refuted claims that Marcos is at his "weakest" amid the flood control mess, citing that personalities allegedly involved in the irregularities have been arrested and investigated after he exposed the massive corruption.
"At his weakest? Ito pa bang panahon na 'to na siya po ang nagpaimbestiga. Hanggang ngayon po, maraming ginagawa ng aksyon para mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot (Is this really the time to say that, when he himself ordered an investigation? Up to now, he has been taking many actions to hold the right people accountable)," Castro said.
"Ang dami na po na napaaresto. Marami na po rin na kinasuhan. Marami na po na naibalik na pondo. Ito pa ba yung weakest na masasabi natin? Meron na pong kilala, mga maimpluwensyang tao na ngayon ay nakakulong na. 'Yan pa po ba ang masasabi natin at his weakest (So many have already been arrested. Many have been charged. A lot of funds have been recovered. Would we still call that his weakest? Well-known and influential people are now in jail. Can we really say that he is at his weakest)," Castro pointed out.
The Palace official further said that "it is easy to shout for someone to step down from their position" but it would not be easy to handle the aftermath when it comes to how they would run and lead the government if the President steps down.

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