Malacañang said the Marcos administration welcomes criticism but will challenge allegations against the government that it considers unsupported by evidence.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Caloocan Second District Rep. Edgar Erice claimed that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon had warned him that his proposed project in C-3 in Caloocan would receive zero funding because of his criticisms of the government.

In her press briefing on Monday, Aug. 17, Castro said she immediately contacted Dizon after hearing Erice's claim, and the DPWH chief denied having spoken to the congressman about the alleged threat.

She said the government does not fear criticism because President Marcos considers feedback from Filipinos in determining what needs to be improved or addressed.

“Hindi natatakot ang gobyernong ito sa anumang pagbabatikos dahil kung anuman ang mga mensahe ng ating mga kababayan, iyan naman po ay tinatanggap at inaalam ng Pangulo para malaman kung ano ang kulang, kung ano’ng dapat gawin (This government is not afraid of any criticism because whatever messages our countrymen have are accepted and considered by the President to determine what is lacking and what needs to be done),” Castro said.

The Palace Press Officer said Erice could not simply attribute his claims to public sentiment, particularly when he makes them publicly as a congressman.

She cited Erice's statement in a previous interview about an alleged “laglagan” or supposed effort to protect former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from being charged or sued over the flood control scandal, saying such claims required evidence.

“So, hindi siya puwedeng i-parrot lamang kung ano ang sinasabi ng ibang mga tao na walang basehan (He cannot simply parrot what other people are saying without basis),” Castro said.

“Siya, kailangan ng basehan kaya natin siya hinahanapan ng ebidensiya (He needs a basis, which is why we are asking him for evidence),” she added.

Castro said that if Erice had evidence supporting his allegations, he should be the first to file a case instead of merely repeating claims attributed to other people.

“Tayo po ay bumabase mismo sa kung ano ang ating dala-dalang ebidensiya, kung ano ang mayroon tayo at hindi po tayo dito pamema lang (We base our actions on the evidence we have and what we can present, and we are not simply making things up here),” she said.

Castro also rejected Erice's assertion that his statements could damage the administration, saying allegations without evidence should instead be corrected.

“Pero iyong mga mensahe na walang basehan hindi po ito nakakapanira sa pamahalaan, hindi ito nakakaapekto pero dapat po na ituwid (But messages that have no basis do not damage or affect the government, but they should be corrected),” she said.