Marcos doesn't want violence amid protests vs. contractor in flood control projects – Palace

Amid the public's clamor for liability in the anomalous flood control projects, Malacañang said Thursday that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. does not want the ongoing investigation to result in violence.

''Hindi po nanaisin ng Pangulo na ganito ang mangyari. Sabi nga po ng Pangulo, sinusunod po natin ang due process. Sa mga kapwa nating Pilipino, ang pag-iimbestigang ginagawa po ng Pangulo, ang pag-uutos na imbestigahan lahat ay para rin po sa taumbayan,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(The President does not want this to happen. Just like what the President said, due process is being observed. The investigation being done by the President, the order to investigate everyone is for the Filipino people.)

''Pero hindi po ninanais na magkaroon ng kaguluhan dahil lamang sa may mga maling information dahil ito raw ay ginagamit para mas paalabin ang galit ng mga Pilipino, hindi po iyan ang nais ng Pangulo. Nais ng Pangulo ay maliwanagan lahat tayo kung ano ang nangyayari sa mga flood control projects at maibigay ang nararapat sa taumbayan,'' she added. 

(But he doesn't want this to result in violence due to wrong information being peddled to instill anger among Filipinos. The President wants the public to be enlightened as to what is really happening with these flood control projects.) 

Castro was asked for a reaction as several protesters threw mud, vandalized, and shook the gate of a property owned by the Discaya family in Pasig City. 

Companies owned by the Discayas were among the 15 contractors that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos disclosed were awarded 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects.

On Monday, Sarah Discaya admitted owning nine construction firms that bid for projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways, and that there were times when the said companies bid against each other for the same projects.

The Palace official also said the President has directed concerned government agencies and law enforcers to ensure that protest actions will not result in violence.

''So, inuutos naman din po ng Pangulo sa mga concerned government agencies natin, sa mga law enforcement natin na huwag ninyo pong hayaan na mangyari po ito,'' Castro said.

(The President has tasked concerned government agencies and law enforcers not to let this happen.) 

Holding placards, banners, and megaphones, the protesters trooped to the office of the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction. The picket, composed of flood victims and militant groups, hurled mud at the gate of the Discayas’ office as they demanded that the contractors be held accountable for anomalous and ineffective flood control projects.

According to the Discayas’ lawyer, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, their camp will file a criminal complaint against the organizer of the protest. — RF, GMA Integrated News