Palace: Marcos skipping UNGA to focus on domestic issues, no security threat

Malacañang has clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week is due to pressing local concerns, not security threats.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the National Security Council has not identified any direct threat to the President’s life. She added, however, that security forces remain on alert.

Marcos Jr. has delegated the UNGA engagements to Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro so he can focus on local issues, including corruption investigations in infrastructure projects.

Castro said Marcos is unfazed by upcoming anti-corruption protests, noting that the President himself ordered probes into anomalous flood control projects. 

“Alam po niya na ang pagpuprotesta ng taumbayan ay tungkol sa paglaban sa korapsiyon. At binanggit din po niya na siya mismo ang nagsimula upang mapaimbestigahan itong mga maanomalyang flood control projects,” she said.

On Monday, Sept. 15, Marcos Jr. finalized the members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which will investigate irregular projects from the past 10 years. 

Retired Supreme Court Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. will chair the body, with former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as members.IMT