By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday stressed that he has not engaged in any political attack or declared “war” against any group since becoming president, noting that there are “obstructionists” who only attack the government, no matter how it performs.
During the “Kapihan with the Media” in Japan before flying back to Manila, Marcos emphasized that he has not done anything to turn up the so-called “political heat” and is only “working and trying to do the best job for the Filipino people.”
“I have never turned up the political heat. I have never attacked anyone. I have never put down anyone. I have never declared war on any political group whatsoever. All I do is work,” he said.
For the President, those who are making all kinds of “preposterous allegations” are the only ones who can turn down the political tensions in the country. “There are two kinds of politicians in my view—those who are actually helping and those who are doing nothing but obstruction… Walang ginawa kung hindi gustong manggulo. Lahat nang sabihin ng administrasyon, mali.”
“Those are the obstructionists—and they are not working for the Filipino people, they are working for themselves,” he added.
On recent Senate developments
Asked for comment over recent issues and tensions in the Senate, Marcos lamented how the disagreements made in the upper chamber are now mixed with personal attacks and conflicts.
“I watched with horror that the Senate has become this… And I never imagined that [it] would descend into this kind of what’s happening right now,” he said.
He likewise expressed dismay over the gun-related incident in the Senate while Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was still under the Senate protective custody.
“The Senate is now sheltering fugitives from justice. How did that happen? I don’t understand how a Senate is supposed to function if those are the kind of things that the Senate is embroiled in. I hope they figure it out soon. I really do,” he said.
As a former senator, Marcos was also asked about his opinion on the proposed amendments to the Senate rules to allow lawmakers to participate remotely in sessions.
According to the President, while online voting was only acceptable during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no valid reason to allow the setup under the current situation.
“The long-standing tradition of the Senate is that if you are not physically present on the floor when a vote is taken, that you cannot in fact vote,” he said.
“Again, COVID gave us a different outlook because we were concerned about health and safety at that point. We do not have those concerns now about health and safety.”
The Chief Executive likewise alluded that the proposal was being pushed for the benefit of a few senators, particularly Dela Rosa, who is in hiding amid the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged involvement in the drug war of the Duterte administration.
“Ang para sa akin is that, simple lang ang question, dapat bang bumoto ang senador kung hindi siya sumipot? Sa aking palagay, hindi dapat. Kung talagang importante sa iyong makaboto, dumating ka sa Senado,” he said.
On his sister, Sen. Imee Marcos’ claims that members of the Senate majority bloc are being targeted by the administration, the President stressed that legal actions being taken against some senators in connection with the flood control scandal and other issues are a product of the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, and other investigative bodies.
“Hindi ko alam kung paano napunta na sinasabi na ‘yung majority ngayon ang tina-target. Dahil kung tutuusin ninyo, hindi sila majority noon. So, that does not apply,” he said.
“It was because of the allegations that were made and the investigations that were conducted upon learning of those allegations against kung sino man,” he added.
On alleged ‘no-election’ scenario
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. strongly denied the statements made by his sister, claiming that the government is pushing to amend the Constitution in order to allow him to stay in power via a “no-election” scenario.
“[The] truth of the matter is we have never at any point even spoken about this anywhere with anyone at any time. So I don’t know,” he said.
The President also warned of the negative impacts of fake news, urging the public to be careful about their sources of information.
“Fake news is a corrosive influence in all sectors of society, in politics, in economics, in actual human relations, et cetera. And if you are not part of the solution, you become part of the problem,” he said.
On Tuesday, before boarding the presidential plane for his four-day state visit to Japan, Marcos only addressed his sister’s allegation by means of a facial expression. (with reports from Kenneth Pacienta / PTV News)
-jpv
