By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Tuesday stressed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Executive department remain committed to working with the Senate regardless of its changes in leadership but noted that the ongoing issues in the Upper Chamber may affect the passage of key priority measures.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked for comment after the Senate’s session on Monday was disrupted following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
“Sa ngayon alam naman natin kung ano iyong mga priority bills, hindi lang dalawa, hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo, marami po. Pero kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa Senado, mahihirapan po talaga, hindi lamang ang Pangulo kung hindi ang taumbayan, apektado ang taumbayan dito, pati po ang ekonomiya ay maapektuhan sa ingay at gulo sa Senado,” she said.
Castro said that while it is okay to assist Estrada in his arrest as a colleague, there’s no need to stop working and carrying out their mandate as senators because of the issue.
“Sa parte po ng Pangulo, sa parte po ng Ehekutibo, wala pong magiging isyu. Kahit sino po ang lider sa Kongreso, makikipag-ugnayan, makikipag-cooperate ang Ehekutibo para lamang maipasa ang mga priority bills para sa taumbayan. Ang Pangulo po ay hindi iisipin ang sarili, hindi iisipin ang sariling interes,” she said.
Meanwhile, Castro clarified that there was no obstruction of justice on the part of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano despite his tense exchange with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla during the serving of the arrest warrant against Estrada.
“Hindi nga po kailangan na sila ay humadlang, mas magandang makipag-cooperate sila sa mga law enforcers, iyon po ang tamang proseso at iyon po ang may paggalang sa bawat institusyon,” she said.
Estrada was arrested due to P573-million plunder and graft charges in connection with flood control projects.
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