Ched Rick Gatchalian

Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

 

Article (news)

Marcos backs anti-corruption sentiments: Malacañang

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757745836279walkout.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Amid several rallies against alleged widespread corruption in government projects, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects and &quot;supports&quot; the public sentiments against corruption.</div>&quot;First of all, the President will always respect this freedom of expression. So kung ano man po ang nararamdaman na sentimyento ng mamamayan ngayon, &#x27;yan po ay ginagalang ng Pangulo,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing on Saturday, September 13.&quot;&#x27;Yan po ay sinusuportahan din po ng pangulo, ang mga hinaing ng ating taong bayan dahil ito naman po ay laban sa korapsyon,&quot; she stressed.Castro also named<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/13/palace-names-2-members-1-advisor-of-independent-body-to-probe-flood-control-mess-1358"> two of the three members of the newly created independent commission</a> that will probe alleged anomalies in flood control projects — <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/a-timeline-of-the-philippine-flood-control-scandal-0600">the controversy that sparked the public clamor</a> for accountability and transparency.She added that while Malacañang welcomes criticism on corruption, it hopes such grievances will not be “exploited” by groups seeking to destabilize the government.&quot;Ang dasal lang po natin, itong kanilang pagse-sentimyento ay &#x27;di sakyan ng mga tao na hindi maganda naisin para sa gobyerno kundi mag-debstabilize,&quot; she said.This after the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/dnd-afp-reaffirm-political-neutrality-highlight-commitment-to-constitution-2157">reaffirmed their commitment to the Constitution </a>under the Marcos administration, following calls for a military withdrawal of support from the government.<div> </div><div>BIGGER RALLIES ON SEPT. 21</div>The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it observed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/13/13-rallies-recorded-in-metro-manila-during-black-friday-protests-pnp-0853">13 rallies in different parts of the metro</a> during what activists and groups called &quot;Black Friday Protest&quot;.Among the rallies, the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/up-students-rage-against-government-corruption-1415">University of the Philippines&#x27; student walkout</a> gathered the largest crowd of 2,000 state scholars and allied groups.Progressive outfits and activists said a bigger show of force will be seen on September 21, where more protests will be staged in various areas like Luneta Park in Manila.September 21 also marks the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines — a period that continues to taint the Marcos family with allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

Amid several rallies against alleged widespread corruption in government projects, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects and "supports" the public sentiments against corruption.

Amid several rallies against alleged widespread corruption in government projects, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects and "supports" the public sentiments against corruption.