By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – The priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is to meet the Filipino people’s needs, Malacañang said on Tuesday, amid the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Duterte’s fate is solely up to Congress, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at the Palace briefing Tuesday, echoing Marcos’ stance.
Castro issued the statement in response to calls of several groups, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, to stop delaying Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“May kanya-kanya po talagang paniniwala, may kanya-kanyang opinyon ang bawat grupo, ang bawat tao. Katulad po ng sinabi namin, ang public servant dapat po talaga ay mayroong accountability, may transparency (Every group, every person has their own belief and opinion. As we said, a public servant should have accountability and transparency),” she said.
“So, iginagalang po ng Pangulo ang bawat opinyon ng bawat tao at ng bawat grupo. Pero muli, ang Pangulo ang pagtutuunan po talaga ay ang pagtatrabaho para sa taumbayan (So, the President respects every opinion of every person and every group. But again, the President’s focus is on working for the people),” Castro added.
She advised the public to just let the Senate do its job and let the process take its course.
In an interview with Palace reporters, Marcos said he believes that Senate President Francis Escudero wants a “peaceful” transition of the trial from the 19th Congress to the 20th Congress.
The Senate is expected to take further action on Duterte’s impeachment case when it resumes session Wednesday. (PNA)
