MANILA (October 21) — Under mounting pressure from the country’s top business groups, Malacañang on Monday defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption drive and warned individuals allegedly undermining the probe into public works anomalies to “stop sabotaging” ongoing reforms.
The sharp warning followed a rare joint resolution by 34 major business organizations demanding swift action on what they described as a “historic, massive and unprecedented corruption scandal” in infrastructure projects — a development that has intensified political and economic pressure on the administration to act decisively.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President has already taken concrete steps, including the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is investigating alleged irregularities in flood control and other public works projects spanning the past decade.
“The ICI has already ordered asset freezes, issued immigration lookout bulletins, and recommended the filing of charges against implicated officials and contractors,” Castro said.
She also hit back at groups allegedly spreading misinformation to discredit the probe. “Our only appeal to obstructionists spreading stories to destroy the ICI’s credibility: tone it down or stop, because it’s not helping the economy,” she said in a Palace briefing.
Castro emphasized that the President is acutely aware of the private sector’s frustration, adding that the administration intends to act swiftly and decisively to clean up the system.
The Palace also signaled openness to strengthening the legal mandate of the ICI to give it more enforcement power, though Castro noted that the ongoing investigation is already gaining traction.
The administration’s strong stance underscores a politically charged anti-corruption push aimed at shoring up both investor confidence and public trust, as pressure mounts from powerful business blocs for structural reforms within the Department of Public Works and Highways and other implementing agencies.
