Palace: Marcos won't intervene on House probe into Dolomite beach

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not intervene with the House of Representatives’ investigation into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project, an artificial beach project under the Duterte administration, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Castro stressed the separation of powers between Congress and the Executive, saying the President would not interfere with the lawmakers’ mandate.

“Unang-una po, ipapapaala natin na may separation of powers. Kung anuman ang maging trabaho at gagawing mga hakbang ng House of Representatives sa pag-iimbestiga dito [sa] Dolomite beach ay kanilang trabaho at hindi hahadlang sa anumang hakbang ang Pangulo patungkol dyan,” Castro said.

(First of all, there is a separation of powers so whatever the House of Representatives’ move on their investigation, the President will not interfere.)

On Monday, the House public accounts committee announced it is set to conduct a public hearing into the status of the controversial beach project. The first hearing will be held on November 17 and will tackle the project's necessity based on the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na kapag po iniimbestigahan ang mga proyekto ng nakaraang administrasyon ito ay pamumulitika lamang. Ibig bang sabihin kapag pina-iimbestigahan ang mga nakaraang proyekto na nagawa sa nakaraang administration, dapat hindi na ito paimbestigahan kasi otherwise it will be considered as politicizing?” said Castro.

(Investigation into projects under the previous administration does not mean politicking. Does that mean that if projects under the previous administration would be investigated, it should not be investigated because it will be considered politicizing?)

“Tama naman ito pero ang sabi ng Pangulo at ng administrationg ito, hindi sila makikialam kung ano ang ginagawa nang mga mambabatas natin sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga,” she said.

(This is right but the President has said that he won't be intervening on what the legislators are doing in their investigation.)

Meanwhile, Castro denied the Marcos administration is behind the congressional probe.

"Bago sila magsalita niyan patunayan muna nila ang Pangulo ang behind dito sa Dolomite beach probe. Kasi kung wala at nag-speculate lang tayo, sasabihin nila na ang Pangulo ang behind dito, hindi naman po iyong makatwiran at unfair naman po 'yan sa Pangulo,” Castro said.

(Before they accuse the President is behind the Dolomite beach probe, they should prove it first. If we will just speculate, that would be unfair to the President.)

Built during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, the dolomite beach previously received criticism from environmental groups and fisherfolks. The 900-meter long and 60-meter wide beach was later closed for expansion which was completed in 2022. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News