There is no rift, at least on the part of President Marcos, between him and his sister Senator Imee Marcos amid the latter's withdrawal from the administration's senatorial slate and the investigation on former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there is no word from Marcos that he and his sister are harboring any animosity towards each other over recent political issues.
She said it is not the President's personality to dwell on such matters.
"As we can see from the statements of Senator Imee Marcos, it seems like there is. But on the part of the President, we cannot say that there’s a rift between the relationship … in the relationship of the two siblings," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Thursday, March 27.
"So, hintayin na lang po natin kung mayroon mang sasabihin ang Pangulo. But sa ugali kasi ng Pangulo, hindi po siya masyadong …alam ninyo po iyon, hindi siya pikon (So, let's just wait if the President wishes to speak about this. But based on the President's personality, he is not easily offended)," Castro added.
"Wala rin po tayong nadinig na anumang hinanakit, kung mayroon man ha, mula sa Pangulo para sa kaniyang kapatid (We do not also hear him express resentment over his sister, if there is)," Castro went on.
Alyansa's advocacy
Perhaps it was better for Senator Imee to withdraw from the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas if her beliefs do not align with the party's advocacies, Castro said when sought for reaction on the senator's recent move.
"Sa ngayon po, siya naman po ang nagsabi na siya’y kumakalas na sa Alyansa dahil ang sabi niya ay hindi yata pareho ang kanilang mga adhikain, ang adbokasiya (For now, she said she left the Alyansa because her objective and advocacy differ from Alyansa's)," she said.
"Kung hindi po talaga nalilinya ang kaniyang mga paniniwala sa paniniwala ng Alyansa, mas maganda po siguro talaga na siya ay umalis dahil kung hindi niya po paniniwalaan ang mga programa ng Alyansa, hindi po talaga magkakaroon ng magandang relationship (If her belief do not align with the Alyansa, perhaps it was really better for her to leave because if she does not believe in the programs of Alyansa, they will never have a good relationship)," she added.
The senator has skipped two previous Alyansa rallies in Tacloban and in Trece Martires, Cavite due to Duterte's arrest.
She formally left the Alyansa on March 26, saying she "cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa."
'We're not hiding anything'
The Palace refuted suspicion that the government is hiding anything for repeatedly invoking executive privilege on the investigation on the arrest of Duterte.
Castro pointed out that the government has been invoking its executive privilege as there are matters about the arrest that should not be disclosed to the public.
"Executive privilege po is a constitutional doctrine that allows the President and high-ranking officials, executive officials to withhold some sensitive information especially kung ito po ay magkakaroon na po ng encroachment ng isang (is this will cause encroachment to a) branch over to another branch," Castro explained.
"Because executive privilege is rooted from the separation of powers so there are instances, including the concerning issues, concerning national security, diplomatic relations, military affairs and internal deliberations within the Executive Branch, this should not be made public," Castro added.
"So, wala po tayong itanatago, may mga pagkakataon lamang po na iyong ibang mga napag-usapan ay hindi dapat isinapupubliko (So, we are not hiding anything, there are only details that must not be disclosed to the public)," she further said.
'Walang personalan'
The Palace official reiterated that there was neither personal motives over the arrest of Duterte, nor it was a result of the political fallout between Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
"Wala po tayong pinipersonal dito. Kung ano lang po ang sinasabi ulit ng batas at kung ano iyong nagiging obligasyon natin at magiging commitment natin sa Interpol, iyon lamang po ang ating gagawin. Wala pong personalan dito (This was nothing personal. We only enforced what was in the law and in compliance with our obligation and commitment to the Interpol. There is no personal motive here)," Castro said.
Castro also dismissed the Senator's findings that the Philippines had no legal obligations to arrest Duterte, adding that her opinions were being influenced by Duterte supporters.
"Ganiyan po ang kaniyang magiging opinyon kung ang kaniyang mga nakausap ay ang mga Duterte supporters (Her opinion would be like that if she's been talking to Duterte supporters)," the Palace official said, stressing that experts have been saying otherwise.