There was no political considerations in the decision to allocate P 500 million to retrofit the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, Malacañang said on Thursday.
The Palace denied the allegations, stressing that Naga City is not the sole local government unit that received assistance from the national government.
“Ang pagtulong po sa local government, wala po itong pinipili, kung ano ‘yung kailangan ng local government, ‘yun po ang puwedeng matugunan kung kakayanin,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro.
She issued the remarks after Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appeared to be wooing ex-Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to be his ally.
“Saan niya po nakuha iyong ganoong klaseng mga opinyon o ‘yung mga ganoong klaseng pag-iisip,” Castro asked, adding that the allegation was “malicious” and “very irresponsible.”
“Hindi porke’t si dating bise presidente Leni Robredo, now Mayor Leni Robredo ng Naga City, ay nabigyan ng ganitong klaseng pagtulong, namumulitika na? Binibigyan na ng malisya?” she added.
Castro said not everything that the national government does for LGUs should be construed as political maneuvers.
In February this year, Marcos led the turnover of P 500 million to Naga City through a Special Allotment Release Order for the coliseum’s retrofitting and modernization.
The JMRC was built in 2010 during the term of then Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, Robredo’s late husband.