Palace asks public not to be negative with gov't measures vs. corruption

Malacañang on Friday asked the public not to be ''negative'' on the actions of the government regarding the anomalous flood control projects. 

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for comment on protesters trooping the Independent Commission on Infrastructure compound in Taguig City as they demand accountability.

''Hanggang nandiyan po at may nagtatrabaho at ang intensyon naman po ay maganda para po mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot, hayaan na lang po natin na umandar iyong sistema at ang procedure at huwag po tayong masyadong maging negatibo sa ginagawa ng gobyerno sa ngayon,'' Castro said.

(Until someone is working and the intention is good, let's allow the process to take its course and let's not be negative as regards what the government is doing.) 

Castro also said Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has already filed cases against those involved in irregularities. 

''Marami po kasing mga kaso. Nakapagsampa na po kahapon si Sec. Vince ng karampatang mga kaso, at hindi po dapat siguro mainip ang ating mga kababayan,'' she said. 

(There's a lot of cases. Sec. Vince already filed cases and our kababayans should not lose patience on this.) 

Meanwhile, in the same briefing, Castro was asked for comment on the remarks of some student leaders that police could easily arrest protesters but not big-time corrupt individuals. 

She said the public should also determine the nature of arrests, especially if they were caught in the act of doing something wrong.

''Unang-una po, alamin po natin kung ang inaaresto po ba ay nahuli na may ginagawang aksyon kasi ito po ay isa sa paraan at isa sa mga ligal na paraan ng kapulisan na sila ay maaaring umaresto, kung caught in the act, gumagawa mismo ng krimen. Kung sila ay gumagawa ng krimen o may basehan na sila ay gumawa ng krimen, maaari po silang maaresto,'' Castro said. 

(First of all, let's determine if those arrested were caught while in action, and this is a legal way for the police to act, especially if they were caught in the act of doing the crime. If they're really committing a crime and if cops have a basis that they did these crimes, they can be arrested.)

''Hindi po lisensiya ang pagiging kabataan para po gumawa ng isang krimen, at sasabihin na huwag ninyo kaming hulihin dahil kami ay parte ng kabataan,'' she added. 

(Being a youth is not a license to commit a crime, wherein one can say that they can't be arrested because they are youths.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News