MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. supports the public’s demand to hold accountable those behind alleged ghost and anomalous flood control projects, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President fully backs the legitimate concerns raised in recent protest actions, noting these do not include destabilization efforts.

“Even before sinabi naman ng Pangulo na ang freedom of expression ay iginagalang ng administrasyon na ito. At alam din naman natin kung anong panawagan ng mga kababayan natin, para panagutin ang mga sangkot at hindi naman para mag-destab(ilize),” Castro said in an interview over dzBB.

“At ito naman ay sinasangayon din ng Pangulo, dahil lahat tayo ay may karapatan na magalit sa nangyayaring mga anomalya sa tungkol dito sa flood control project at mga ibang imprastraktura,” she added.

Castro said the President remains focused on ensuring accountability for alleged corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects — issues Marcos himself had earlier exposed.

“Ang Pangulo po, lagi nakikinig sa sinasabi ng taong bayan. Gawin lamang natin ng legal ang lahat ng mga aksyon na magaganap ngayon,” she said.

In a separate interview with GMA News, Castro repeated the President’s assurance that the ongoing investigation will spare no one, including allies or relatives, and that charges will be pursued strictly based on evidence.

“Hindi naman i-open ng Pangulo ang issue na ito kung alam niya na tatamaan siya. Alam niya sa sarili niya na wala siyang ginawang mali at kailangan ma-imbestigahan ito para malaman ng taong bayan ito ang nangyari sa pondo,” Castro said.

She added that the President’s disclosure of the alleged anomalies “nabukas ang utak natin, ang mata natin na talaga palang inaabuso ng mga makapangyarihan itong pondo ng bayan,” emphasizing that “’yun ‘yung gustong labanan ng Pangulo.”

Castro also stressed that investigators should take the time to build airtight cases so that responsible officials cannot evade liability due to legal loopholes or insufficient evidence.

President Marcos earlier said that cases must be solid to ensure that guilty parties are held accountable.