President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he is confident in the ongoing investigations into the government corruption scandal, even if they eventually lead to his doorstep.
In a brief media interview at Malacañang, Marcos was asked to comment on assertions that the government’s current investigation into alleged corruption might point to him, given that he signed the national budget and has direct supervision over personalities allegedly involved in the issue, including his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. ‘Well, I am confident because I know what we did or did not do. So, but, if we investigate-we investigate everybody. We’ll follow the evidence. And wherever that leads is not something that we try to direct or influence,’ Marcos responded.
‘That’s why we have the ICI [Independent Commission for Infrastructure]. They are an independent commission. And that is their job. And their job is to follow the leads that they received. And if necessary or if it is justified, and if they can, they will now recommend to either the Ombudsman or to the DOJ [Department of Justice] that cases be filed,’ he added.
Marcos also emphasized the autonomy of the ICI, saying he will not interfere with its probe.
‘I am confident that whatever-whatever mud might be slung at the administration, that we will be able to show that these are politically motivated and do not actually have any validation in fact,’ he said. On Sept. 21, tens of thousands of people staged protests in various parts of Metro Manila-coinciding with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law under then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in Sept. 1972.
The demonstrations focused on condemning the irregularities in flood-control projects and called for accountability for the personalities involved in the developing controversies.