“Alam ko, bago mag-Pasko, makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas.”
That is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, November 13, as he delivered The President’s Report at the Malacañan Palace.
During that, he reported the progress made since his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.
He noted that criminal complaints against have been filed against personalities believed to have malversed public funds through ghost and substandard flood control projects, as well as the issuance of asset freeze orders, and implementation of systemic reforms in public infrastructure projects.
It was also when he declared that most the personalities charged in connection with flood control corruption scandal would be in jail before Christmas.
“Alam ko, bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito… Matatapos na ‘yung kaso nila, buo na ‘yung kaso. Makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas. Before Christmas, makukulong na sila,” said President Marcos.
The President also noted the administration’s actions being focused on three goals. These are to hold those behind the corruption to account, to recover the stolen public funds, and to formulate and implement systemic reforms.
“Kaya’t ‘yang mga taong ‘yan na kasabwat diyan, ito mga walanghiyang nagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan: Tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw. Habulin na namin kayo,” Marcos warned.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive also reiterated his prior comment about the importance of building solid cases based on evidence.
He said that they are collating sufficient documents so as to not file cases that may only end up dismissed by the courts due to lack of evidence or other legal technicalities.
“Alam ninyo, kinakatakutan namin na ‘yung mga alam natin na talagang kasabwat dito sa kawalang-hiyaang ito ay makakalusot sa kaso because of a legal technicality, dahil nagkamali tayo sa pagbuo ng ebidensya, dahil hindi maganda ang ating pagpresenta ng kaso, o nakalimutan natin pumirma sa isang dokumento,” President Marcos explained.
He continued, “Kaya tinitiyak namin na pagka kami ay sumampa ng kaso, ‘yang kasong ‘yan ay hanggang sa dulo ay matibay ang kaso at kung sino man ang mga guilty, ay sila naman talaga ay mananagot. At kung kailangan at kung huhusgahan sila ng korte ay makukulong sila.”