Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “proud” of his son, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, for voluntarily appearing before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to provide information on the probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Palace spokesperson Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President and First Lady Liza Marcos raised their son to face issues with “decency and courage.”

“Makikita kung paano pinalaki ni Pangulong Marcos at First Lady Liza Marcos ang kanilang anak na disente at matapang humarap sa komisyon bitbit ang limang kahong ebidensiya,” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Friday.

Rep. Marcos appeared before the ICI last week after former AKO Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co implicated him in a supposed P50-billion budget insertion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act. He clarified he had not been subpoenaed and was not the subject of any investigation.

Civic groups laud appearance

Civic leader Jose Antonio Goitia said Marcos’ decision to appear before the commission “speaks for itself.”

“He went before the commission entirely of his own accord, guided not by obligation but by a sense of duty,” Goitia said. “He cooperated fully and asked for an executive session to keep the discussion focused on facts rather than theatrics.”

Goitia, who leads the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, said the Majority Leader’s conduct reflected respect for institutions.

“Showing up voluntarily reflects respect for our institutions. Accountability is not a performance. It is a responsibility,” he added.

He said Marcos chose to answer questions in the proper forum instead of “engag[ing] in online exchanges,” stressing that “real leaders face the issues head-on.”

“At a moment when baseless accusations and destabilization attempts circulate from afar, the Majority Leader offered a different example,” Goitia stated. “Courage is not always loud. Sometimes it is as simple as walking into a hearing with honesty and a clear conscience.”

Goitia said Marcos’ actions “brought clarity instead of drama,” and argued that such behavior deserves recognition.

“Integrity is proven through action. Sandro Marcos chose to face questions with dignity,” he said, adding that the President and First Lady “have every reason to be proud.”