MANILA — Malacañang urged Filipinos to actively denounce corruption and illegal enrichment by politicians, echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s appeal against corrupt practices.

“Alam mo kahit na marami tayong batas, kahit iyong namumuno natin ay matino at ayaw ng korupsiyon, kung ang mga nasa ilalim ay walang kadala-dala na gumawa ng krimen, tayo na mismong taumbayan ang magpaalala sa mga politiko na walang ginawa kundi ang magpayaman,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

Castro repeated Marcos’ call during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, when the President denounced massive kickbacks in flood control projects.

“Kaya sa mga nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino!” Marcos had said.

The Palace official made the statement when asked about safeguards to prevent local government units (LGUs) from being influenced to approve anomalous infrastructure projects.

On Monday, Marcos ordered that LGUs must again be required to formally accept completed national infrastructure projects in their jurisdictions, reviving a safeguard removed under the previous administration.

The President said LGU acceptance is necessary to ensure that projects such as roads and flood control systems meet proper standards.

The reinstatement of the LGU acceptance requirement forms part of reforms accompanying the probe of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) into alleged systemic corruption in flood control and related projects.