Malacañang on Tuesday said the developments in the Senate are affecting not just the passage of priority legislative measures but also the country’s economy and the interests of the people.
“Kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa Senado, mahihirapan po talaga hindi lamang ang Pangulo kung hindi ang taumbayan (What is happening in the Senate will really affect not only the President but also the people),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said when asked if there are concerns over the passage of priority measures of the administration.
“Apektado ang taumbayan dito. Pati po ang ekonomiya ay maaapektuhan sa ingay at gulo sa Senado (The people will be affected here. Even the economy will be affected by the noise and chaos in the Senate),” Castro added.
The Senate majority led by Senate President Alan Cayetano had not attended the sessions for the past two days.
This followed the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of a warrant for Senator Jinggoy Estrada following the plunder and graft charges against him in connection with alleged P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects.
Prior to this, the Senate had a change of leadership, a shooting incident occurred in its building, and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa had slipped out of the Senate’ despite its having protective custody over him. Dela Rosa is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the drug war of the Duterte administration.
Castro said while it is understandable that some members of the Senate would accompany their friend and colleague, Estrada following his arrest, the senators should not abandon or turn their back on their mandate.
“Iyan po ang itanong natin sa Senado dahil, tama po, hindi naman po kinakailangan na hindi magtrabaho kahapon dahil maski na po ang paghatid at pagsama kay Senator Jinggoy Estrada bilang kaibigan ay nararapat lamang (That’s what we should ask the Senate because, that’s right, it’s not necessary to not work yesterday because even bringing and accompanying Senator Jinggoy Estrada as a friend is appropriate),” she said.
“Pero hindi po kinakailangang talikuran ang sariling mandato para lang sa ganitong klaseng isyu (but it’s not necessary to abandon one’s own mandate just for this kind of issue),” she added.
Castro also reiterated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not interfere in what is happening in the Senate which is a co-equal branch of the executive branchMalacañang on Tuesday warned that the continuing turmoil in the Senate could hurt not only the passage of the administration’s priority measures, but also the country’s economy and the public interest.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the disruption in Senate proceedings could have wider consequences for governance, especially if the chamber fails to act on urgent legislative work.
“Kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa Senado, mahihirapan po talaga hindi lamang ang Pangulo kung hindi ang taumbayan,” Castro said when asked whether Malacañang was concerned about the possible delay in priority bills.
“What is happening in the Senate will really affect not only the President but also the people,” she added.
Castro said the political noise and instability in the Senate could also weigh on economic confidence.
“Apektado ang taumbayan dito. Pati po ang ekonomiya ay maaapektuhan sa ingay at gulo sa Senado,” she said.
“The people will be affected here. Even the economy will be affected by the noise and chaos in the Senate,” she added.
The statement came as members of the Senate majority led by Senate President Alan Cayetano skipped plenary sessions for the second straight day, preventing the chamber from conducting regular business.
The Senate no-show followed the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada over plunder and graft charges in connection with alleged P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects.
The chamber had also been rocked by a series of controversies, including a leadership change, a shooting incident inside the Senate building, and the departure of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa from the Senate despite being under its protective custody.
Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Castro said it was understandable for some senators to accompany Estrada as a colleague and friend following his arrest, but stressed that lawmakers should not abandon their mandate.
“Iyan po ang itanong natin sa Senado dahil, tama po, hindi naman po kinakailangan na hindi magtrabaho kahapon dahil maski na po ang paghatid at pagsama kay Senator Jinggoy Estrada bilang kaibigan ay nararapat lamang,” she said.
“Pero hindi po kinakailangang talikuran ang sariling mandato para lang sa ganitong klaseng isyu,” Castro added.
She also reiterated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not interfere in the internal affairs of the Senate, which is a co-equal branch of government.
Castro said the President would continue working with the Senate regardless of who leads the chamber, especially in pushing measures that would benefit the public.
“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,” she said.