Malacañang assured citizens that state programs and public services will remain completely unaffected by the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During a Palace press briefing on Thursday, June 25, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed claims made by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who suggested that moving forward with the impeachment while bypassing an investigation into a major flood control controversy constitutes “selective justice.”
Castro clarified that the executive branch is not preoccupied with the impeachment trial, noting that the topic is not even brought up during meetings between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Cabinet.
”[N]agtatrabaho ang gobyerno para mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot at hindi po focus sa impeachment trial. Sa totoo po, kapag nagmi-meeting po ang Pangulo with the Cabinet secretaries, hindi po napag-uusapan ang impeachment,” Castro said.
She reiterated that operations within the executive branch remain fully active and that state infrastructure projects will proceed despite any political noise.
”Ang ehekutibo po, ang Pangulo, hindi po naaantala ang mga proyekto; patuloy pong nagtatrabaho kahit ano pa po ang isyu, maliban lamang po kung may mga taong gusto talagang maantala ang proyekto ng Pangulo,” Castro stressed.
Castro made it clear that the administration will prevent any disruptions to government functions. She also acknowledged that the Senate operates under its own constitutional mandate, sharing her confidence that the legislators know how to balance their legislative duties with their roles in the impeachment court.
However, she expressed hope that lawmakers would refrain from skipping future sessions.
”Alam po nila kung kailan dapat gumawa ng batas at kailan kailangan na humarap bilang senator-judges sa isang impeachment court. So, sa ating palagay, responsable naman din po ang mga senador natin para tapusin ang kanilang trabaho, huwag na lang sana magkaroon ng pagbo-boycott muli ng mga sessions,” Castro said.