MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday rejected Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opposed his proposal to provide P10,000 in financial assistance to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro saying the government would present evidence to refute the allegation.
In a Viber message to reporters, Castro said Malacañang would counter Cayetano’s statements regarding the proposed cash assistance.
“We will present evidence to counter Sen. Alan’s lies,” Castro said in Filipino.
Castro also criticized the senator for what she described as making baseless allegations and accused him of shifting responsibility for measures he failed to pursue.
Cayetano made the remarks during a Facebook livestream after the government announced a new round of financial assistance worth up to P12,000 for more than 7 million poor and low-income households affected by higher oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
During the livestream, Cayetano said he proposed a P10,000 financial assistance program in 2021 and heading into 2022 because many families had not yet recovered from the pandemic. He claimed President Marcos did not support the proposal after assuming office.