President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores)
While there has been no filed impeachment complaint against President Marcos, Malacañang said the President is prepared to face any that may be lodged.
"At ang Pangulo naman handa naman po sa lahat ng pagkakataon dahil siya po ay gumagalang sa konstitusyon, gumagalang po siya sa proseso (The President is prepared for any eventuality because he respects the Constitution and the process)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Monday, Jan. 12.
Castro, however, maintained that the President never stole public funds and reiterated that it was him who initiated the investigation on the massive flood control corruption.
She said Marcos did not breach public trust, and he never had a "Mary Grace Piattos" in his undertakings.
"Pero kung pag-uusapan po natin ay breach of public trust dahil nabanggit ito tungkol sa diumanong pagpirma sa GAA. Ang Pangulo po, unang-una, hindi po siya nagnakaw ng pera. Pangalawa, siya po ang nagpapaimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects at maaaring naging sanhi ng korapsyon. Pangatlo, wala po siyang 'Mary Grace Piattos' (But if we are talking about a breach of public trust, which has been mentioned in relation to the alleged signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), first of all, the President did not steal any money. Second, he was the one who ordered investigations into anomalous flood control projects that may have caused corruption. And third, he has no 'Mary Grace Piattos')," Castro said.
'Mary Grace Piattos' was among the names that popped up as receipt signatory for confidential funds under the office of Vice President Sara Duterte.
On Sunday, Castro said the possible filing of impeachment complaint against Marcos is among the "unsubstantiated statements" coming from supporters of "a certain politician," tagging it as "political maneuverings."
"The administration will not speculate on rumours or political maneuverings," Castro said.
"At this point, these are unsubstantiated statements allegedly coming from the supporters of a certain politician," Castro added.