MALACANANG yesterday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s offer of reconciliation does not mean he would violate or ignore the law.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a briefing in Malacañang, reiterated that the President is open to reconciling not just with the Dutertes but all those with whom he has differences in opinions, beliefs and even policies.
“When he was asked if he is open to reconciliation, he never said he would not implement the law, he never said he would forgive those who violated the law,” she said in Filipino.
She said Marcos’ offer of reconciliation aims to put an end to division and to promote stability in the country so he can eventually fulfill promises he made during the campaign.
The President, in a podcast interview released on Monday, said he is open to reconciling with the Dutertes, adding that he prefers to have more friends than enemies.
Duterte allies challenged him. Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo aske Marcos to show his sincerity by pushing for the return to the country of former president Rodrigo Duterte who was arrested in February and turned over to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
Panelo said the administration should submit an intervention to the ICC stating that the country is not under ICC jurisdiction and that Duterte’s arrest was a mistake.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President can show his sincerity by taking a drug follicle test.
Castro reiterated that Marcos was implementing the law when he allowed the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the ICC.
On the call for a drug test, she reminded the public that Roque was the source of a fake video of someone who resembles the President, who was allegedly taking drugs.
“Reconciliation is for the people, not for the personal interests of others. Let us remember, clearly, I will repeat what the President said, that he wants everyone to reconcile so that there is stability, so that what needs to be done can be done, and that the work of the government is not derailed,” she said.
She reiterated the call for Roque to return to the country to face the charges of human trafficking filed against him and several others in connection with a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) activity in Pampanga.
She said it is only Roque who believes he is being politically persecuted.
