MANILA, Philippines – Ipinaalala ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nitong Martes na hindi maaalis ng isang rally ang pananagutan ng sinumang nahaharap sa kaso, kasabay ng isinagawang protesta ng mga miyembro ng Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) bilang suporta kay Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
Ipinarating ni Palace Press Officer Claire Castro ang mensahe ng Pangulo habang nagtipon ang mga miyembro ng INC malapit sa Edsa People Power Monument bago ang paghahain ng non-bailable plunder case laban kay Marcoleta sa Sandiganbayan ngayong linggo.
“The president’s appeal is not only for our fellow citizens who have been affected but also for those who are holding rallies. Holding rallies, he says, is not the solution to immediately clear or absolve a person of a case,” ani Castro sa Filipino.
“The acquittal of a person happens in court; it cannot be achieved through rallies. The president is listening to what you are saying about your call for transparency, accountability, and the enforcement of the law. This is what the president has been doing since he took office, especially since he discovered anomalies in flood control projects,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Castro na bagama’t kinikilala ng pamahalaan ang karapatan ng mga nagpoprotesta, hindi dapat naaapektuhan ang publiko sa pagsuporta kay Marcoleta.
Samantala, iginiit ni INC spokesperson Bro. Edwil Zabala na may umiiral na “selective justice” at ipinagtanggol ang isinagawang pagkilos ng grupo.
“That is why we want the authorities to hear this: Even if they imprison Senator Marcoleta, we will not stop demanding justice for our fellow Filipinos who have been robbed,” pahayag ni Zabala sa Filipino sa isang Net 25 livestream.
Isinagawa ang rally matapos ihayag ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla na magsasampa ang kanyang tanggapan ng non-bailable plunder case laban kay Marcoleta sa Sandiganbayan kaugnay ng umano’y P75 milyong campaign donations case. RNT
