Malacaรฑang wasted no time stepping into the ring on Tuesday, declaring that House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos and the rest of the First Family are open to undergoing a lifestyle check amid fresh corruption chatter. The assurance came as the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) released a report showing that Ilocos Norteโs 1st District โ which Sandro represents โ received twice the allocable funds of Rizalโs most populous district.
Pressed for reaction, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro kept her footing: the President, she said, trusts that Congressman Marcos โknows what he is doingโ and can answer the allegations himself. The administrationโs line is clear โ they are not ducking from scrutiny. โOpen po, even before,โ Castro added, underscoring the First Familyโs willingness to face any audit of their assets and lifestyle.
Castro refrained from speaking on Sandroโs behalf but pointed out that the congressman has already volunteered to appear before investigators at the International Center for Investigative Journalism (ICI). All he needs, she said, is a schedule. The move aligns with an earlier Palace stance that the executive branch โ including President Marcos โ is ready to undergo lifestyle checks as part of the sweeping probe into anomalous flood control projects.
As the administration braces for heavier blows in the coming weeks, the Palace insists it remains committed to accountability. For now, the First Family signals theyโre stepping into Round 1 โ gloves up, eyes forward.
Image from Bongbong Marcos FB