Press Officer of Malacañang Speaks after PBBM Expressed Openness To Reconciliation w/ Dutertes
MALACAÑANG – The Palace issued a statement of clarification on the remarks of President Bongbong Marcos about “reconciliation”.
Since she left her post as the secretary of the Department of Education and she exited the Marcos cabinet, it has become visible to the public that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and Pres. Bongbong Marcos are not in good terms. The issue between the two (2) highest-officials of the government was further ignited by the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the looming impeachment trial against the Vice President.
Amid Malacañang and Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressing that the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is up to the Senate, the Duterte camp and supporters believe that the Marcos administration allegedly wants the Vice President removed from her position. Many Filipinos believe that the arrest won’t happen without the go signal of Marcos Jr.
The Palace previously defended Pres. Bongbong Marcos from accusations that he allegedly betrayed the Filipino people and the sovereignty of the country when he allowed the transfer of the custody of a former President to foreign hands. Malacañang claimed there was no betrayal as the government only acted on its commitment with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands for more than a month now. The confirmation of charges against him is set in September 23 which is still around four (4) months away from now. He is faced with an allegation of crime against humanity over the war on drugs of his administration.
In the 2025 Elections, Pres. Bongbong Marcos and Vice Pres. Sara Duterte endorsed different senatorial slates. Six (6) bets of Marcos’ Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago won seats in the Senate while five (5) senatorial bets of Duterte emerged victorious in the senatorial race.
Recently, now that the 2025 Elections are over, aside from extending his hand to the winners of the elections regardless of their “colors”, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Malacañang made a clarification on the “reconciliation” remarks of the President.
“Hindi magpapahawak sa leeg at hindi magpapadikta ang Pangulo sa mali… Hindi tatalikuran ng Pangulo at babaliktarin ang batas para lang pagsilbihan ang personal na interes ng iilan,” Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro said.
Based on the report, Malacañang further claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos only wants reconciliation for peace and stability in the country so he can fulfill his promises to the Filipinos. Atty. Claire Castro also clarified that the “reconciliation” message of the President was not just meant for the Dutertes but for anyone who has a different view with the current admin.
“Ang rekonsilyasyon lamang po ay para hindi na magkaroon ng gulo at para magkaroon ng stability at matupad niya ang mga pangako niya sa bayan,” she said.
Previously, after the midterm polls, Pres. Bongbong Marcos also admitted his realizations from the results of the 2025 Elections.