By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Thursday rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the recent conflict in the Senate reflects the weak leadership of the Marcos administration.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had no involvement in the developments in the Senate, including the May 13 gun-related incident inside the Senate premises and dispute over Senate leadership.
“Ang dapat nating tandaan, ito naman ay nasa records, ang putukan na nangyari sa Senado, hindi po ito pinag-utos ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
She disputed claims that the Senate turmoil is a reflection of the Marcos administration’s weakness.
She maintained that the President remains focused on addressing the needs of Filipinos amid global challenges and the recent earthquake in Mindanao.
“Ang paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan ay naglalagay sa atin sa isang kumunoy,” Castro said.
“Habang ang Pangulo ay patuloy na nagtatrabaho para ayusin, mabigyan ng mga tulong para mapaganda ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino lalung-lalo na’t may kinakaharap tayong global oil crisis, pati na po ang nangyaring lindol sa Mindanao, patuloy na nagtatrabaho, samantala ang Bise Presidente ay patuloy sa paninira at binabago ang naratibo,” she added.
The Palace official pointed out that some senators involved in efforts to change the Senate leadership and influence developments related to the impeachment proceedings against Duterte are political allies of the Vice President.
“So, ang mga tao sa likod nito, ang lahat ng ito, lahat sila, sila iyong nagsasabing dapat na ibasura ang impeachment, ito ay lahat para sa proteksyon ng Bise Presidente,” she said.
“So, hindi totoo na patungkol daw sa kahinaan ng liderato sa administrasyon kung hindi ito ay sa patuloy na pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan para lamang sa kanilang mga kaalyado. So, huwag sanang mamihasa sa pagdudungis ng iba para magmukhang biktima sa ating mga mata.”
Asked if the Palace is concerned over the possible impact of the Senate gridlock on the impeachment proceedings, Castro said the President’s concern is to ensure that due process and rule of law are observed.
“Kung may kailangang managot, dapat na managot; kung kailangan na malinis ang pangalan, dapat linisin ang pangalan,” she said.
Castro added that the public deserves to know the truth through established legal processes.
