THE PALACE mouthpiece has openly admitted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is supporting decisions of the senate — but only out of respect for the constitutional principle referred to as “separation of powers.”
In a press briefing, Undersecretary Claire Castro in her capacity as Palace Press Officer, took a swipe at Senator Pia Cayetano’s remarks suggesting the current senate majority enjoys the President’s backing.
During the impeachment trial, Cayetano suggested that her colleagues in the majority “call Malacañang” to convene a special session for the amendment of the Senate’s impeachment rules, adding that “it seems that Malacañang is very supportive of the majority.”
In response, Castro said: “Nagsalita po ang Pangulo… sinabi naman niya na kung anuman ang isinasagawa o magiging desisyon sa Senado, ito naman ay kanyang susuportahan at ang desisyon naman ang nagwawagi lagi ay kung anong sinasabi ng majority.”
“So, susuportahan po ng Pangulo, unang-una, because of the separation of powers. Susuportahan po ang ginagawa ng Senado as long as those activities are within the bounds of law,” she added.
On day two of the impeachment trial, Cayetano chided the majority bloc to call Malacañang if only to convene a special session to amend the rules of impeachment.
“If His Honor will insist that we have to be in session to amend the impeachment rules, eh di tawagan niyo po ang Malacañang,” Cayetano was quoted as saying.
“Ito importante ito, ‘di ba? Eh di kung ipipilit ninyo na yang impeachment amendment na yan kailangan gawin in special session, eh di magpatawag tayo ng special session. Mukhang very supportive naman ang Malacañang sa majority.”
Under the Constitution, only the President may call Congress into a special session during its sine die adjournment.
Castro then expressed concern over Cayetano’s health in reference to the viral video of the senator shedding tears while alluding that none of her colleagues had checked on her following the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13.
“Unang-una, gusto po nating kumustahin si Senator Pia Cayetano. Kumusta na po ba, Senator Pia Cayetano? Dahil sa tuwing nagsasalita siya, very recently ay lagi siyang parang hinihingal,” a seemingly sarcastic Castro quipped.
