MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed that individuals who instigated violence during Sunday’s anti-corruption rally will be held accountable, while affirming his support for the public’s call to expose anomalies in government projects.

In a Malacañang press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Press Officer Claire Castro said most demonstrators exercised their right to peaceful assembly, but the protest in Mendiola was disrupted by a group of individuals who resorted to violence.

“Peaceful rally, nasamahan lang ng iilang nais manggulo. Mananagot ang lahat. Iyan ang nais ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa lahat ng sino mang gumamit ng karahasan sa naganap na peaceful rally noong Linggo,” Castro said.

Castro added that the President respects the people’s clamor for accountability, stressing that he himself ordered the probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

However, she condemned groups that allegedly deployed masked individuals to cause chaos. “Hindi siya naging hadlang sa malaking protesta, naglahad ng galit ang tao laban sa korapsyon. Ngunit kinukondena ng administrasyong ito at ng Pangulo ang paggamit ng mga kabataan na gawing mga tulisan ng mga grupong itinatago ang mukha sa likod ng itim na maskara,” she said.

According to Castro, Marcos will not allow acts of violence to overshadow the public’s legitimate grievances. “Hindi kayo makakalagpas sa kamay ng batas… Hustisya ang uusig sa inyo,” she added.

The Palace stressed that the administration remains committed to pursuing transparency and accountability, with the President urging citizens to continue exposing corruption.

“Magpapatuloy din ang Pangulo sa naumpisahan na ito at sa tulong ng taumbayan… ang pang-aabuso sa kaban ng bayan ay mailalantad at malalabanan,” Castro said.