Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday expressed optimism that political tensions and the recent leadership change in the Senate will not hinder the passage of priority measures being pushed by the Marcos administration. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. respects the principle of separation of powers and will never interfere in Senate affairs.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized that the President should not interfere in Senate decisions due to the existing separation of powers. 'Ang Pangulo kasi hindi naman siya dapat makialam kung ano ang mangyayari kung anong pagkakaroon ng desisyon diyan sa Senado kasi meron nga tayong separation of powers (The President should not interfere in whatever decisions the Senate makes because we have separation of powers),' Castro said in an interview with dzBB.
She further noted that the President is not the issue at hand and expressed his readiness to cooperate with the legislative body. 'Ang Pangulo kasi wala sa kaniya ang issue. Ang Pangulo kahit sino ang leader niyo diyan, ang Pangulo, nandiyan lang. Makikipagtulungan ang Pangulo, ang ehekutibo sa lehislatura (The President is not the issue here. Regardless of who your leader is, the President is just there. The President and the executive are ready to cooperate with the legislature),' she added.
Castro expressed hope that the Senate would focus on legislation benefiting the public rather than political noise and internal disputes. She underscored the importance of passing priority bills that are intended to serve the public interest, rather than the President's. 'Siguro ang maganda lang dito na mapanawagan, kahit ano pa ang nangyayaring gulo diyan, sana huwag maapektuhan yung mga priority bill na gusto sana ng Pangulo, na mapatupad kasi hindi ito para sa Pangulo kung hindi para ito sa taumbayan (What we can only hope for is that despite whatever conflict is happening there, the priority bills the President wants implemented will not be affected - because those are not for the President, but for the people),' she stated.
The Palace Press Officer urged senators not to let political tensions distract them from their legislative duties. She also called on them to 'fix their own issues' and prioritize public interest over personal and political agendas. 'Kung may problema sila diyan, dapat alam nila ang priority para sa taumbayan, hindi para sa iisang politiko, hindi para sa pagtatakip ng mga gusto nilang pagtakpan ang mga kaso diyan (If they have problems among themselves, they should remember that their priority is for the people - not for one politician and not for covering up issues they want hidden),' Castro said.
Finally, Castro expressed hope that the Senate's actions would remain for the benefit of the people and not for personal interests. 'Sana 'yung pag-iingay nila para sa taumbayan hindi pansarili. Kasi 'yung iba nakikita na nag-iingay sila para nga may pagtakpan o may kampihan na nakakasira in a way doon sa pagiging neutral nila (Hopefully, the noise is for the people and not for personal interests. Because some appear to be making noise to protect someone or take sides, which in a way damages their neutrality),' she concluded.
