Protesters urged: Be vigilant, wary of destabilizers

In anticipation of the massive rallies against corruption today, Malacañang called for vigilance against possible attempts to exploit public outrage over questionable flood control projects to pursue personal interests.

- Alexis Romero, EJ Macababbad

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Filipinos are free to express their sentiments as long as they are within the bounds of law.

President Marcos respects the rights of those who wish to join the protests, she added.

"But be critical and vigilant because this legitimate objective might be used by people who only seek to malign the government and to push their personal interests," the Palace press officer said in a statement.

Castro reiterated that Marcos wants the public to work with government in ending the abuses in the use of government funds.

"The President hears and feels the disappointments of the people. That's why he ordered an investigation into the anomalous flood control projects to hold people who abused public funds to account,” she said.

Various groups will hold simultaneous rallies today at the People Power Monument along EDSA in Quezon City and Rizal Park in Manila to condemn corruption and demand reforms, transparency and accountability in governance.

Marcos, who vowed to spare no one in the probe into the flood control projects mess, has expressed support for the rallies, saying he might be out in the streets to join the protests if he were not the president.

“Let your sentiments be known to them, how they hurt you, how they stole from you. Shout at them... You demonstrate. Just keep it peaceful. If it is not peaceful... the police will have to do its duty to maintain peace and order,” the President told reporters last week.

“But to show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness, what’s wrong with that?” he added.