President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was disappointed by recent developments in the Senate surrounding the disappearance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to evade possible arrest, according to Malacañang.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday said President Marcos believes government institutions must uphold the Constitution and enforce the law instead of serving personal or political interests.
“Hindi kailangan na ang bawat isa ay sariling pagyaman ang gawin, hindi ang iilang interes ang dapat na pagyamanin kung hindi dapat tumugon kung ano ang sinasabi ng Konstitusyon, ipatupad kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas,” Castro said when asked about the president’s view on the situation in the Senate.
(It is not necessary for everyone to focus on self-enrichment, nor should only a few interests be pursued, rather, we must respond to what the Constitution says and implement what the law dictates.)
Pressed by reporters on whether President Marcos was angry or dismayed, Castro said he appeared disappointed during a meeting with Cabinet officials after discussing the incident involving Dela Rosa’s reported disappearance despite being under Senate protective custody.
“Makikita mo sa hitsura ng Pangulo at kung papaano siya magtanong sa mga Cabinet secretaries nandoon po ‘yung disappointment (You can see from the President’s expression and how he questioned the Cabinet secretaries that there was disappointment),” Castro said.
“Hindi sa Cabinet secretaries kundi sa pangyayari sa Senado (Not toward the Cabinet secretaries but with what happened in the Senate),” she added.
The controversy stems from the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) failed attempt to serve an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa in connection with proceedings linked to the International Criminal Court.
Castro rejected suggestions that the NBI failed in carrying out its duties, saying agents were blocked from implementing the warrant.
“There was no failure on the part of the NBI agents. They were blocked,” she said.
When asked whether the NBI should have complied with the Senate’s request to halt or suspend the service of the warrant while Dela Rosa was under protective custody, Castro shifted the focus to the Senate’s actions.
“The question is, was the Senate correct in interfering with the service of the warrant of arrest?” she said.
Castro also defended the NBI’s response, saying the incident highlighted which institutions respect the law and established processes.
“Dito makikita ninyo kung sino ang may respeto sa isang institusyon at sino ang hindi rumespeto sa batas (Here you will see who respects an institution and who does not respect the law),” she said.
