Instead of silencing public anger, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leaned into it, saying that if he were not the country’s Chief Executive, he might well be on the streets himself, railing against those accused of siphoning billions from flood control projects.
Marcos made the remark on Monday, September 15, as he addressed the growing public clamor against what he described as an “egregious problem” of corruption in infrastructure spending, which he said has long been whispered about but is only now being fully exposed.
“Do you blame them for going out into the streets? If I wasn’t President, I might be out in the street with them,” Marcos said. “Of course, they are enraged, of course they are angry. I’m angry, we should all be angry, because what is happening is not right.”
The President urged citizens to make their sentiments known and hold erring officials accountable, calling demonstrations a valid form of expression so long as they remain peaceful.
“Ipaalam ninyo kung paano kayo ninakawan nitong mga ito. Sigawan ninyo, lahat gawin ninyo, mag-demonstrate,” Marcos said. “Just keep it peaceful, kasi kapag hindi na peaceful, mahirap na iyan.”
He warned that law enforcers would be duty-bound to maintain peace and order if protests cross into violence, but reiterated that public demonstrations rooted in a call for justice should not be discouraged.
“To show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, what is wrong with that?” he said.
Marcos stressed that his administration is determined to investigate and pursue accountability, saying the misuse of public funds in flood control projects undermines both trust in government and people’s welfare.
“I want to show that there is justice, I want to show that there is fairness. I want to hold these people accountable, just like they do,” he added.
