Malacañang on Thursday called on Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to submit evidence to substantiate his claim of having information about irregularities in flood control projects.

During a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro urged Magalong to show evidence against individuals involved in corruption in flood control projects, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered to be investigated.

“At kung ano po ang maitutulong ni Mayor Magalong, mas maganda po na ito’y mailahad niya sa Pangulo,” Castro said when asked to comment on Magalong’s accusation that some lawmakers pocketed kickbacks of 30 to 40 percent of flood control and infrastructure project funds.

“Iyong sinasabi nilang 67 congressmen, at mukhang sila ay identified na ni Mayor Magalong, hindi po ba mas maganda na ibigay na niya ang report na ito sa ating Pangulo? At kung kinakailangan ma-idemanda o makasuhan ng may sapat na ebidensiya, agad-agad na din pong gawin,” Castro said.

On Magalong’s offer to lead the investigation, Castro said President Marcos has already given orders on the mechanism and system for the investigation, ensuring a fair and transparent process.

“Unang-una po naibigay na po ng ating mahal na Pangulo ang mekanismo, ang sistema kung papaano ito maimbistigahan. At nagbigay na rin po siya ng direktiba sa Regional Project Monitoring Committees,” Castro said, referring to the mechanisms under the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).

“Kung ano po ang meron siya, kung ito po ay kumpleto maari niya po ito isumite agad-agad sa ating Pangulo,” Castro reiterated.

“Dahil ang sinabi niya po ay marami niya po siyang nalalaman. So mas maganda po na ito ay detalyado. Hindi po pwede muli na tayo ay magturo lamang,” Castro added. ǀ PND