Malacañang on Tuesday clarified that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York next week is meant to prioritize urgent domestic issues, emphasizing that there is no direct threat to his life.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing that, aside from previous threats made by the Vice President, the National Security Council found no existing danger to the President.
“Base po sa National Security Council ADG Cornelio Valencia, wala pong direct threat sa buhay ng Pangulo. Pero hindi po sila magiging kampante sa pagbibigay ng seguridad,” Castro said.
On Monday, Malacañang announced that Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will represent the Philippines at the UNGA on behalf of the President.
When asked if anti-corruption demonstrations scheduled this weekend influenced the President’s decision, Castro said Marcos was unbothered, noting that he himself ordered the probe into massive irregularities in flood control projects.
“Hindi po nangangamba ang Pangulo dahil alam po niya na ang magpoprotesta ay kakampi rin niya sa laban kontra korapsiyon. Sabi nga po niya, kung hindi siya presidente, malamang ay makakasama rin siya sa pagprotesta,” Castro added.
Earlier this week, President Marcos completed the composition of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), tasked to investigate anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects over the past decade. Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. was appointed chairperson, with former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV & Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo as members, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as special adviser.
With reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
