Malacañang has warned against destabilizers who may ride on protests against corruption in flood control projects.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects the right of the people to express their opinions. The President is said to support the public sentiment because it is against the misuse of government funds.
“Our prayer is that this will not be used by those who only want to cause trouble and destabilize the government,” Castro said. He did not name the groups he was referring to.
Meanwhile, various progressive groups and UP Diliman students have already staged large protests against the flood control anomaly. A larger protest is also expected at Luneta Park on September 21.
During the investigation, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson revealed that only 40% of the flood control project budget went to the actual structure. The remaining 60% allegedly went to kickbacks by some officials and contractors. If the project costs ₱100 million, that means only ₱40 million is actually used, while ₱60 million goes into the pockets of corrupt officials.
