Marcos wants 'stolen' funds returned to public - Palace

“Ibalik ang pera ng taumbayan.”
(Return the money to the people.) 

This is what President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants as to the stolen taxpayers' money by individuals who were involved in anomalous flood control projects, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Wednesday.

Castro said it is not enough that those involved would only be slapped with charges or be imprisoned. 

“Hindi sapat na masampahan lang ng kaso ang mga sangkot sa maanomalyang flood control projects,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

“Hindi rin sapat na makulong ang mga ito dahil ang nais ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ay maibalik ang pera ng taumbayan,” she added. 

(It is not enough that cases be filed against those involved in the flood control project anomalies. 

It is not enough that they be imprisoned because President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is to return the money to the people.)

Castro mentioned that, upon the directive of the President, government agencies immediately acted to recover the embezzled public funds, which led to the freezing of bank assets and properties of individuals who were linked to the anomalies. 

The Department of Public Works and Highways has already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze nearly half a billion pesos worth of luxury vehicles of personalities involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Meanwhile, Castro also said the President was angry when he learned the revelation of the Discayas that kickbacks from government projects received by congressmen supposedly went as high as 30 percent during his term.

“Galit po ang Pangulo sa ganyan. Kaya nga po pinasimulan niya ang pag-iimbestiga na ito at sa ngayon po nakikita natin kung gaano ba nagiging mapang-abuso ang karaniwang mamamayan at kasabwat ang ilang mga public officials,” Castro said.

(The President is angry at that. That is why he initiated the investigation on these and for the public to see the abuses we are seeing from ordinary citizens in collusion with a number of public officials.) 

She said the only reason for this could be too much greed.

“Wala pong nakikita kung anumang dahilan. Siguro sobra lang pong ganid ang mga public officials na ito at walang kabusugan,” Castro said.

(We do not see any other reason. Is is possible these public officials are greedy and are never satisfied.)—RF, GMA Integrated News