PBBM won’t bend law for anyone; unity call sets no conditions

“The President chooses the rule of law over personal ties. (A choice between a) friend or the law? The President will still choose the law.”  —PCO Usec. Claire Castro

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for national reconciliation should not be construed as a move to shield anyone from accountability as he will not allow himself to be blackmailed into bending the law to benefit a few people, a Palace official said yesterday.

“The President will not allow himself to be dictated upon by other people to do something wrong (in the spirit of reconciliation). The President will not turn his back on the law and he will not bend the law just to serve the interest of a few people,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing Wednesday.

Castro said Mr. Marcos’ message of unity, aired in his recent podcast, extends to all Filipinos regardless of political affiliation or past conflicts, and not solely to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.

“Let’s not focus on reconciliation as something meant only for the Dutertes. The President was clear that his openness applies to anyone,” she said.

Castro made the clarification after some allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte said reconciliation would only be sincere if Mr. Marcos took steps to bring his predecessor back from The Hague.

“The President chooses the rule of law over personal ties. (A choice between a) friend or the law? The President will still choose the law,” she added.

She said the administration remains committed to governance and public service without being derailed by political drama and misinformation.

“The President’s offer of reconciliation comes without conditions. It’s about the Filipino people—not personal interests,” Castro said.

Earlier, senators and an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines the President’s openness to reconciling with the Dutertes, saying it showed his intention to rise above political bickering for the sake of national unity.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, however, said Mr. Marcos must show “extreme sincerity” if he truly intends to reconcile with the Duterte family.

“Because of the depth of the wounds they inflicted on us, I think what’s really needed is ‘extreme sincerity’ and not just something superficial,” Dela Rosa said.

The senator renewed his claim that Mr. Marcos had assured him the government would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its bid to arrest Duterte.

Dela Rosa said Duterte’s arrest on March 11 upon his arrival from Hong Kong was a violation of the said assurance.

Senator Robin Padilla, also a Duterte ally, underscored the importance of a goodwill gesture in any peace talks.

“In every peace negotiation, exploratory talks are always the beginning. The biggest question from the aggrieved party starts with: ‘What is the goodwill offer?'” he said.

For his part, Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs (ECPA) executive secretary, said unity and reconciliation “should be motivated by the common good.”

Stratbase ADRI president Dindo Manhit added political reconciliation must be anchored on accountability and good governance.

“I hope the reconciliation or the unity of our political leaders is based on the core principles of accountability and truth and also respect of institutions,” Manhit said.

President Marcos on Monday said he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family, saying he prefers peace and unity over political conflict.

“Do I still want to reconcile with the Dutertes? Yes,” the President said. “Me, I don’t like trouble. I want to get along with everyone. It’s better that way.”

“I already have many enemies, and I don’t need more. I need a friend,” he added.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Palace: Marcos’ reconciliation bid won’t spare accountability.”