Malacañang has given its word that citizens will not be barred from voicing their outrage in the streets, as massive crowds continue to gather in Metro Manila to denounce alleged corruption in the government’s flood control projects.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized in a televised interview that the administration respects public dissent. “Freedom of expression will not be curtailed,” she said, adding that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. only asks that demonstrators abide by the law.
Castro recalled that Marcos himself had admitted he might have joined the demonstrations if he were not the sitting President. She stressed that far from dodging accountability, Marcos initiated the probe into the questionable flood control deals. “What accountability do they want from him? He initiated the probe. Let’s focus on those truly liable, not evade responsibility,” she remarked.
The Palace spokesperson also revealed that Marcos cancelled his trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly so he could stay informed on developments at home. “Definitely, the President is monitoring because peace and order are needed, and protests must remain peaceful. That is why he did not push through with his trip, so he could know and hear the true concerns of the people,” Castro explained.
At the same time, she raised caution over political groups attempting to exploit the rallies for their own agendas. She urged the public to remain focused on exposing those genuinely responsible for anomalies.
While affirming that government workers have the same right to expression as ordinary citizens, Castro reminded them to avoid acts that may disrupt public services or worsen traffic.
