By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not tolerate corruption or cover-ups, Malacañang said on Saturday, stressing that anyone, regardless of status or affiliation, should be investigated if evidence of wrongdoing emerges.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos remains committed to ensuring accountability for irregularities, including those involving the President’s relatives, friends and political allies.
“Sa panahon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., hindi ginagawa ang pag-cover up. Walang sinisino (Under President Marcos Jr.’s administration, there is no cover-up. No one is spared),” Castro told reporters.
“Sabi nga natin, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaalyado, kung may makikitang ebidensya laban sa kanila patungkol sa anomalya, dapat itong imbestigahan (As we have said, whether they are relatives, friends, or allies, if there is evidence against them concerning anomalies, it should be investigated),” she said.
Castro made the statement after lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, called himself a “collateral damage” in his wife’s impeachment trial over allegations of unexplained wealth.
Carpio said the public could only “pray,” claiming that he was being persecuted amid scrutiny of financial records linked to him and the Vice President.
During the impeachment proceedings, a financial forensic expert presented by the House of Representatives prosecution alleged that the Vice President and her husband had PHP817.87 million in undeclared assets and income from 2022 to 2025.
Castro called on all Filipinos to join Caprio in praying to let the truth come out.
“Tulungan nating magdasal si Mans Carpio. Iyan ang gusto natin. Lahat ng Pilipino, magdasal para lumabas ang katotohanan kasi marami ng nabubulag ngayon (Let us help Mans Carpio pray. That is what we want. All Filipinos should pray for the truth to come out because many people are being blinded these days),” she said.
Castro also expressed hope that the evidence would be made available to the public.
She said Carpio could clear his name, if there is no evidence of wrongdoing against him.
“Kung may nadadamay lamang, sinasabi nila, malamang ay may ebidensya. So, kung wala naming ebidensya, malilinis naman nila ang kanilang mga pangalan (If people are being dragged into this, as they say, there is probably no evidence. But if there is no evidence, they can clear their names),” she said. (PNA)
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro
