Malacañang welcoming the "legitimate opposition" to the incoming 20th Congress, and conveying to push back against "obstructionists" were not meant to threaten any senator.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said they were not threatening anybody in issuing such statement, asserting that it was intended to highlight that the administration welcomes oppositionists because they are essential in upholding the country's democracy.

This as Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa stated that the Duterte bloc in the Senate will not get in the way of legislations and programs pushed under the Marcos administration, but there is no need for threats.

Castro in a Palace briefing on Friday, May 16, hit back at Dela Rosa, saying her previous statement was not pointing at certain individuals.

"With all due respect to Senator Bato Dela Rosa—bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magalit—unang-una po, wala tayong pinapangalanan kung sino man, ito po ay pangkalahatan. Ang nais po natin sa taumbayan ay huwag maging obstructionist, para magtuluy-tuloy po ang magagandang proyekto at programa ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon (With all due respect to Senator Bato Dela Rosa— let those guilty take offense—first of all, we did not mention any names; this was meant generally. What we want from the people is to not be obstructionists, so that the good projects and programs of the President and the administration can continue smoothly)," Castro said.

"Wala po tayong trineten, wala po tayong trineten na senador (We did not threaten anyone, we did not threaten any senator)," Castro affirmed.

"Sana po ito ay napakinggan man lang sana niya iyong mga words na aking nasabi, para siguro po maiiba ang kaniyang impresyon at ang kaniyang tugon, kung narinig niya iyong buo kung sinabi (I hope he at least heard the words I said, because maybe it would have changed his impression and his response if he had heard the entirety of what I said)," she went on.

The Palace official pointed out that "legitimate oppositionists are welcome, because they are needed in a democratic nation."

What they oppose, she further said, are "obstructionists who do nothing but destroy, and who block good projects just for the sake of it."

Catsro also said that President Marcos will not block any proposed programs coming from the upcoming Congress, and he is hoping that the administration's legislative agenda intended to benefit the people will not also be blocked "just because of politics."

"Hindi po hahadlang din ang Pangulo kung anuman po ang kanilang mga suhestiyon, kung ito man ay hindi naaayon sa programa sa Pangulo. Kung ito naman po ay may valid reason, ito naman po ay pakikinggan ng Pangulo, pero sana po kung anuman po iyong hiling ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon para sa taumbayan, huwag naman po sana nila hadlangan, dahil lamang sa pulitika (The President will also not stand in the way of any of their suggestions, even if these do not align with the President’s program. If there is a valid reason, the President will listen to it. But we hope that whatever the President and the administration aspire for the benefit of the people will not be obstructed just because of politics)," Castro said.

She further pointed out that Marcos is no longer looking at political colors, even as the upcoming 20th Congress is largely divided by allies and the so-called Duterte bloc.

The official said the President wants the newly-elected lawmakers to rise above political colors and do away from politics in crafting new laws.

"Sa paningin po ng Pangulo, wala na pong Alyansa, wala pong PDP, walang anumang kulay ng pulitika, dapat lahat po ng nahalal ay magkaisa-isa, magkaroon po ng kooperasyon. Ito naman po ay para sa taumbayan, huwag naman po sana laging politika ang pinag-uusapan at hindi po tayo makakilos at makakausad kung puro pamumulitika at pang-iintriga ang gagawin natin sa pamahalaan (In the President’s view, there is no more Alyansa, no PDP, no political colors — everyone who has been elected should unite and cooperate. This is for the people. We hope that politics won’t always be the focus, because we won’t be able to act or move forward if all we do in government is politicking and intrigue)," Castro said.