Palace: Reconciliation shouldn't come with conditions, centered on Dutertes

Following the statement of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that he is open to reconcile with the Dutertes, Malacañang stressed that the offer of reconciliation should not come with any conditions.

''Opo, ito man po ay para sa taumbayan at para sa bansa,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing when asked if the reconciliation should not come with conditions.

(Yes, this is for the public and for our country.)

Castro also said the reconciliation should not center on the Duterte family. She also pointed out that in this reconciliation, the President will not disregard the rule of law as he will always abide by it.

''Tandaan po natin, huwag po tayo magfocus sa sinasabing open for reconciliation para lamang sa mga Duterte. Maliwanag po ang sinabi ng Pangulo, sa lahat ng tao na maaaring hindi kapareho ng kanyang paniniwala o ng prinsipyo o ng polisiya,'' Castro said.

(Let's remember, let's not focus on the Dutertes regarding the President's openness for reconciliation. The remarks of the President were clear, it's for everybody whom he doesn't share the same values, principles, and policies with.)

''Mas maganda kung ang lahat ng tao ay makakasundo niya para po sa taumbayan, para magkaroon na po ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtratrabaho para sa bansa. So huwag nating i-sentro ang open for reconciliation sa mga Duterte. Hindi po gagawin ng Pangulo na lumabag sa batas para lamang sa isang rekonsilyasyon,'' she added.

(It's better if he is in good relations with everyone for the welfare of the public and for the continuity of governance. So, let's not center this openness to reconciliation on the Dutertes. The President will not break the law just for this reconciliation.)

The Palace official said Marcos would always ''choose'' the law over ''friends.''

''Hindi po tatalikuran at babaligtarin ng Pangulo ang batas para lamang pagsilbihan ang personal na interes ng iilan. So, tandaan po natin, lagi pong sa batas ang Pangulo. Kaibigan o batas? Batas pa rin po ang pipiliin ng Pangulo,'' she said.

(The President will not disregard the law just to serve the interest of others. The President will always side with the law. Friends or law? The President will choose the law.)

In a podcast with broadcaster Anthony Taberna, Marcos answered in the affirmative when asked if he is open to reconciling with the Dutertes, noting that he wants stability in the government.

Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were runningmates in Eleksyon 2022, with the latter being appointed as Education chief. Their relations, however, had gone sour which led to Duterte eventually quitting the Cabinet post.

The rift between the Marcos and Duterte families widened after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte due to crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court, a move that was defended by the administration, saying that it only honored its commitment to the Interpol. —AOL, GMA Integrated News