
Malacañang has urged Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to directly disclose to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. any information regarding flood-control projects, rather than appointing a lead investigator.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said it would be more effective for Magalong to communicate directly with the President.
“Whatever Mayor Magalong can help, it is better that he can tell the President and it may not be necessary to have a lead in the probe because there is a mechanism and system in place according to the President,” she said.
Castro added that if Magalong has a complete list of the 67 lawmakers he identified, he should submit it to Marcos.
To recall, Magalong revealed that at least 67 lawmakers were involved in bringing in contractors to secure government infrastructure projects.
“If this is complete he can submit it immediately to our President so that you can say that they are 67 congressmen and they seem to have been identified by the mayor. Is it not better to give this report to our President? And if needed to be sued or charged with sufficient evidence, it should be done right away,” she said.
Castro also noted that if Magalong has additional information on other possible anomalies in public works, such as rock netting and cat’s eyes, he should also share them with Marcos.
Two weeks after his State of the Nation Address, in which he pledged to address corruption in flood-control projects, Marcos outlined government steps to investigate these matters, including establishing a website where the public can submit complaints or commendations regarding unfinished, abandoned, ghosted, or completed projects.