Palace hits Erice over claim Marcos won't jail cousin Romualdez

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday called out Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice for his remarks that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. cannot afford to put his cousin, former speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, behind bars over the flood control controversy.

Castro said that Erice’s statements are all theories and are not based on facts.

“Ito ay iniisip niya lang. Nakausap niya ba 'yung Pangulo nang diretso para malaman niya kung ano ang damdamin ng Pangulo patungkol dito sa mga tao na nasasangkot sa flood control mess? Kasi kung hindi niya nakausap ang Pangulo at hindi niya alam ang damdamin ng Pangulo, ‘wag siyang magsalita,” she said in a Palace briefing.

(This is just his imagination. Has he spoken to the President directly to know how the President feels about the people involved in the flood control mess? Because if he hasn’t spoken to the President and doesn’t know the President’s feelings, then he shouldn’t talk.)

“‘Wag siyang magsalita na parang may alam siya sa sinasabi ng Pangulo. Wala siyang karapatan maging spokesperson ng Pangulo, unless papalitan niya ako rito,” she added.

(He should not talk as if he knows what the President wants to say. He has no right to be the President’s spokesperson, unless he replaces me here.)

In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, Marcos reported the charges and detention of ranking officials and contractors in the flood control projects scam, and the expected filing of charges against Romualdez.

Romualdez, in response, said he respected the President’s remarks in the SONA even if they hurt his family.

Castro said she wants to speak personally with Erice to ask him where he is getting his allegations against Marcos.

“Si Cong. Erice ang isa sa pinakagusto kong makausap kaharap kayo at tatanungin ko siya nang diretso: Saan nanggagaling ang lahat ng sinasabi mo? Bigyan niya ko ng ebidensya dahil puro rin ‘to na intriga. Mahirap sumagot ng puro intriga,” the Palace official said.

(Cong. Erice is one of the people I would most like to talk to in front of you and I will ask him directly: Where do you get all your statements from? Give me evidence because these are all accusations. It is difficult to answer pure accusations.) —LDF, GMA News