Manila (EFE).- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday that he supports the unrest in the Southeast Asian country over corruption in multi-million-dollar flood control projects, but warned citizens against violence similar to those recently experienced in Nepal and Indonesia.
“Of course, they are enraged. Of course, they are angry. I’m angry. We should all be angry. Because what’s happening is not right,” Marcos Jr. said at a press conference, in which he outlined his plans to independently investigate flood control projects, apparently completed but nonexistent or of poor quality.
However, the president called on citizens to “keep it peaceful.”
“If it’s not peaceful, it’s going to be difficult (…) the police will have to do their duty to maintain peace and order,” he said.
Several student, civil society, and religious organizations have called for demonstrations in the capital on Saturday to express outrage over suspicions of corruption.
The date is significant as it marks the anniversary of the imposition of martial law in 1972 by the president’s father, the late Ferdinand Marcos, beginning 14 years of dictatorship that culminated in his ouster from the country thanks to a popular revolution.
So far, the country has seen sporadic demonstrations against corruption, including a protest by thousands of university students last Friday, as well as an online scrutiny of the luxurious lives of the so-called “nepo babies,” a reference to the children of major flood control project contractors.
Amid this wave of discontent, Marcos Jr. recalled on Monday that he was the one who brought the issue of corruption to the forefront during his address to the nation in August.
On Monday, the president appointed retired Supreme Court justice Andres B. Reyes as head of the newly created Independent Infrastructure Commission, tasked with investigating allegations of corruption against contractors and politicians over the past 10 years.
“We have to move very quickly and we have to get something done as quickly as possible,” said Marcos Jr., noting that the commission will meet daily and have the power to subpoena witnesses and gather documents.
Both houses of the Philippine Congress are conducting separate investigations into the allegations. The president noted, however, that the allegations involve Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, who have maintained their innocence, as well as Speaker Martin Romualdez, Marcos Jr.’s cousin.
“If the Senate conducts [an investigation], many senators are mentioned. If the House conducts an investigation, many congressmen are mentioned. They are investigating themselves… It’s hard to be fair,” he said.
According to a recent statement by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, nonexistent or flawed flood control projects have caused losses to the public treasury of P118.5 billion (over $2 billion) over the past two years. EFE
daa/tw