Marcos orders probe on quarrying activities in coastal areas

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into the reported quarrying activities in coastal areas, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Wednesday.

Castro issued the remark when asked about the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency’s (NICA) statement that sand from the Philippines’ coastal areas is being used for foreign reclamation projects in the West Philippine Sea.

“Matapos makatanggap ng impormasyon patungkol po dito, inutos po ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng masinsinang pag-iimbestiga patungkol dito. At ngayon po ay ongoing ang investigation,” Castro said in a briefing.

(After receiving information about this, the President ordered a thorough investigation, and as of now, the investigation is ongoing.)

“Kapagka-nagkaroon na po ng pinal na pag-iimbestiga o konklusyon patungkol po dito, gagawin po ang agarang pag uutos. Ito ay naaayon doon sa maaring maging resulta ng imbestigasyon,” she added.

(Once a final investigation or conclusion has been made regarding this, immediate orders will be carried out. This will be in accordance with the possible results of the investigation.)

According to Castro, Marcos stressed that those responsible will be held accountable.

“Hindi po pwedeng iwasan ang mga tao. Kung dapat may panagutin, dapat po managot,” she said.

(One cannot avoid the people. If someone must be held accountable, then they should be held accountable.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News