Atty. Claire Castro, Palace Press Officer, Comments on Protests Outside ICC Headquarters
The Palace gave a message for the Filipinos over the measures taken by the government in the pursuit to fight corruption in the country.
Amid the flood control issue in the Philippines, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI was formed upon the order of President Bongbong Marcos. The said independent body that was formed upon the order of Marcos Jr. is armed with broad powers including the authority to issue a subpoena as well as to move for the seizure of the assets linked to anomalies.
The ICI is led by former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. The independent probe team is a three-member body with their headquarters based in Taguig City. Currently, the flood control investigation is ongoing and they have already invited several individuals tagged in the flood control issue in the country.
In fact, some of those individuals who were invited by the ICI are government officials including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez who appeared before the ICI and promised to extend any help for a faster resolution of the case.
However, Romualdez previously asked the commission to postpone the October 22 hearing for his “medical procedure”. The body has no power to cite a person in contempt. Marcos Jr. previously claimed that not even his cousin nor his allies will be spared from the flood control probe. However, amid the flood control issue in the Philippines, there were protests outside the headquarters of the ICI in Taguig.
Based on a report on GMA News, the protest actions outside the ICI headquarters in Taguig were conducted as the Filipinos called for accountability. The Palace was asked to comment on the matter.
Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro called on the Filipinos not to be negative with regards to what the government is doing to fight corruption. Based on the report, the Palace official also asked the people to just let the process take its course.
”Hanggang nandiyan po at may nagtatrabaho at ang intensyon naman po ay maganda para po mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot, hayaan na lang po natin na umandar iyong sistema at ang procedure at huwag po tayong masyadong maging negatibo sa ginagawa ng gobyerno sa ngayon,” the Palace Official said.
Atty. Claire Castro also stressed that Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has already filed cases against the individuals who are involved in the supposed flood control anomalies. Based on the report, the Palace press officer expressed her belief that the people should not lose patience.
”Marami po kasing mga kaso. Nakapagsampa na po kahapon si Sec. Vince ng karampatang mga kaso, at hindi po dapat siguro mainip ang ating mga kababayan,” she said.
Previously, Malacañang claimed that the investigation of the ICI on the flood control issue is allegedly going well. According to Castro, Pres. Marcos is even satisfied.