By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed allegations that the government’s probe into anomalous flood control projects is being manipulated by political interests tied to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, calling the claims baseless and politically charged.
This as Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero claimed the investigation is following a “script” allegedly to protect Romualdez, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s cousin.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), created to investigate corruption in public works and flood control projects, will follow evidence rather than political narratives.
“Lahat po ng nababanggit na pangalan dapat nating ikonsidera na inosente (Everyone whose name is mentioned must be considered innocent). They should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Let us go to where the evidence leads us,” Castro said.
Accusations and privilege speeches, she stressed, cannot substitute for legal proof.
“Hindi po kasi nadadaan sa magandang talumpati, hindi nadadaan sa pagtuturo… kung hindi sa pamamagitan ng sapat na ebidensiya (Accountability does not come through speeches or finger-pointing, but through sufficient evidence),” she said, urging those with information to submit it to the ICI.
She said the commission was designed to independently evaluate “evidence, facts, and records para matumbok kung sino ang dapat na mapanagot (to determine who should be held accountable).”
Hits back at VP Sara
Castro also fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte, who accused the President of using the ICI to “keep a stranglehold” on the corruption probe and claimed truth and accountability would “flow all the way to Malacañang.”
Castro said Duterte, as a lawyer, should know the difference between allegations and conviction.
She pointed out that no court has found Romualdez guilty of wrongdoing and reminded her that the President had no hand in his election as House Speaker.
“Huwag niya pong kalimutan na mayroon pong separation of powers (She should not forget there is separation of powers),” Castro said.
She also noted that Duterte herself has been “mentioned” in past controversies, which, by her own standard, would not be grounds for judgment.
“Siya po mismo, ang Bise Presidente ay nami-mention din sa mga diumano’y maanomalya na transaksiyon, dapat po ba natin siyang husgahan katulad ng ginagawa niya ngayon? (The Vice President herself has been mentioned in alleged anomalous transactions — should we judge her the way she is judging others?)”
Responding to Duterte’s remark that the “floodwaters of truth” would reach Malacañang, Castro offered a sharp retort.
“Ang tangi lamang po yata niyang alam ay sirain ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. (It seems the only thing she knows is how to attack President Marcos Jr.),” she said.
The Palace official added that President Marcos himself ordered the investigation and was the first to expose ghost projects and substandard flood control works — a fact even Escudero acknowledged.
“Maski na po mismo napakinggan po natin si Senator Chiz Escudero kahapon, kahit na nga po ang Pangulo sinabi po niya na walang kinalaman at siya pa po ang nagsumbong (Even Senator Escudero said yesterday that the President was not involved and was in fact the one who reported the issue),” she said. (PNA)
