Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez downplayed simultaneous anti-corruption protests Monday, asserting that only a “very small group” is calling for the removal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The statement came as anti-corruption rallies took place, concurrent with a video statement from former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, who tagged Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez as central to the country's corruption issues.

“This is a very small, very small group calling for the President to come down. First of all, he is the one who made this public. So, isn’t it obvious that those who want to bring him down are the ones who will be hit?” Gomez said in a radio interview.

Gomez also confirmed that the administration is monitoring for potential destabilization plots.

“It is very remiss, very negligent of any administration not to monitor any destabilization effort against it, so yes, we are monitoring groups, personalities whose aim is to destabilize the government and bring down the duly constituted, duly elected government through extra-constitutional means,” Gomez pointed out.

The PCO chief defended the administration's actions, citing numerous steps taken since the President called out erring public officials involved in the flood control projects. These actions include launching the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, inspecting reported “ghost” flood control projects, shuffling the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, suspending the licenses of the top 15 contractors, changing the Department of Public Works and Highways secretary, and establishing the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

“The President himself went to these locations,” Gomez elaborated. “We have already filed a case with the Ombudsman. This coming week, the vehicles of the Discayas will be auctioned. What's more, the President has done a lot but it's not over yet.”

Gomez echoed the President’s earlier statements, promising that proven corrupt officials would be jailed before the holidays.