Marcos Jr. ready to work with legit opposition, not ‘obstructionists’

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is ready to work with the “legitimate” opposition to advance the interests of the nation, but would fight “obstructionists” who are derailing policies for their personal interests, Malacañang said yesterday. 

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos expects the newly elected leaders to be responsive to the needs of Filipinos as they are supposed to work for the people, not for the interests of a few.

“Whatever their color, the President really welcomes our leaders so we can respond to any problem and provide solutions to the needs of our countrymen,” Castro told Palace reporters during a press briefing.

“You can see the difference because they (obstructionists) only fight for themselves, not the people,” the Palace press officer said. 

“If they manufacture fake news, if they have baseless statements that may defame the government, we would respond to them immediately,” she added. 

As of yesterday, six members of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas are in the top 12 of the senatorial race: ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, former senator Ping Lacson, former Senate president Tito Sotto, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar and Sen. Lito Lapid.

Other candidates who are in the top 12 are Marcos’ elder sister Sen. Imee Marcos, who used to be part of the Alyansa ticket but decided to run independent; Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, all of whom are allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte; and former senators Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, both of whom were endorsed by former vice president Leni Robredo. 

Protest vote? 

Castro disputed claims that the results of the elections reflect a “protest” against the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his drug war. ?“That is the narrative they want. First, if someone should be held accountable and if it is in accordance with the law, he should be held accountable. We should not condone anyone accused of wrongdoing or who may have committed a crime for the sake of voting,” Castro said.  ?“People made the judgment, people cast the votes. Let us respect the choice of our countrymen. This is not a reflection of anything related to what they are saying about the Dutertes,” she added.

Pressed if the President was satisfied with the results of the senatorial race, Castro replied: “The President is satisfied because we have learned that some of the candidates who were voted have dignity and have their own convictions and most of them are loyal to the country, not to other countries.” 

Castro also lashed back at Duterte ally and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who claimed that Marcos is already a lame duck president, given the results of the election. ?“If the President is already a lame duck and if the administration is already worthless, he should return here,” the Palace press officer said.

Roque has applied for asylum in the Netherlands over what he described as “political persecution through unjust prosecution.”