Malacañang asserts that President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is actively addressing corruption and unresolved issues from the previous Duterte administration.
Malacañang Palace has stated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his administration are working to address and resolve problems allegedly left behind by his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte. During a press conference in Singapore, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro responded to criticisms from Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesperson, lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., who accused the Marcos administration of shifting blame for its own challenges onto the Duterte presidency.
Castro emphasized that President Marcos is actively confronting corruption and cleaning up the ‘mess’ of the previous administration. She highlighted that issues such as ghost projects, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) involved in alleged illegal activities, and the controversial Pharmally pharmaceutical contracts surfaced during Duterte’s term but were not adequately addressed.
Specifically, Castro pointed out that late Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya Jr. had already raised concerns about anomalous infrastructure projects in 2018, yet investigations were deficient. She further noted that the current administration cannot ignore admitted problems such as ghost projects in government agencies, citing Duterte’s own acknowledgment of these issues.
The Marcos administration ordered a ban on POGO operations in 2024, which had been legalized under Duterte in 2021 but linked to multiple illicit activities. The Pharmally scandal involved procurement of COVID-19 medical supplies worth billions of pesos, questioned by Senate investigations due to concerns over contract awards to a relatively small company.
Malacañang reiterated that confronting and investigating corruption from past administrations is essential for good governance and that the issues currently facing the Marcos government largely stem from unresolved anomalies prior to their term. Efforts to scrutinize and rectify these problems remain ongoing.
As of this report, the camp of former President Duterte has not provided comment on the statements made by Malacañang.
This development is significant for governance and political accountability in the Philippines, reflecting the Marcos administration’s stance on prior alleged corruption and administrative challenges.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1005125/palace-marcos-left-to-clean-up-duterte-administration-s-mess/story/
