Palace: Marcos not privy to 'deal' between Sara, Imee on bringing home Duterte
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has no participation in the supposed ''deal'' between Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos to bring home former President Rodrigo Duterte.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked how does Malacañang view the Vice President's remark that she is bringing with her the president's sister wherever she goes as the latter will be the one who will bring her father back to the Philippines.
The former president is under custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague due to allegations related to his administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign.
''Ito ba iyong binanggit niya na hostage niya, si Senator Imee Marcos? Ang Pangulo ay walang partisipasyon sa kanilang naging kasunduan. The President is not privy to the contract or agreement between a user and a person willing to be used. Walang kinalaman ang Pangulo sa kontratang kanilang pinasukan, iyong isang tao na manggagamit at isang taong willing magpagamit,'' Castro said.
(Is this the one where she mentioned that Senator Imee Marcos was being held hostage? The President has no participation with their deal. The President is not a privy to the contract or agreement between a user and a person willing to be used. The President had nothing to do with the agreement between a user and someone who's willing to be used.)
Imee was with Duterte during her personal trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She called for support for Duterte during an event with overseas Filipino workers there.
Castro, meanwhile, said the President only wants to focus on his duties, noting that another concern was added as she mentioned the power crisis in Siquijor province.
''At ang nais lang po natin sana ay ang Pangulo po kasi ang sinabi niya ay tuloy-tuloy siya sa kanyang pagtatrabaho, focus sa trabaho. Nadagdag pa nga po ang problema dito sa Siquijor. At kung ang Bise Presidente lamang sana ay nakipag-usap sa kanyang kaibigan, baka hindi pa dumaan at dumating sa krisis na ito sa Siquijor,'' she added.
(The President only wants to focus on his job. Another problem in Siquijor was even added to the President's concerns. It would be better if the Vice President talked to her friend then maybe there's no crisis in Siquijor.)
The Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR), which provides power supply in the province, is owned by the Villar Group of Companies.
To recall, the Vice President supported the senatorial bid of Senator-elect Camille Villar during the midterm polls, despite Villar being under the administration's Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos urged to create Cabinet cluster for Education
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had jointly passed a concurrent resolution calling for President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to create a Cabinet Cluster for Education in order to address the country's education crisis, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said Saturday. In a statement, EDCOM 2 said it passed the concurrent resolution last June 11, the last day of the 19th Congress, to resolve the prevailing issues of functional illiteracy, lack of access to quality early childhood education, the obvious mismatch between graduate skills and industry needs, and significant gaps in teacher development, as identified by the commission in its Year 1 and 2 reports. EDCOM 2 co-chairpersons Senator Win Gatchalian and Pasig City Roman Romulo urged for the adoption of the resolution in both houses during the 19th Congress that led to a landmark consensus on the significance of the cluster to institutionalize coordination of education agencies amid the country's learning crisis. 'Most of the issues reported by EDCOM2 - functional literacy crisis, challenges in senior high school, job-skills mismatch, and gaps in teacher specialization - stem from a lack of coordination among the various education departments," Romulo said. "The Cabinet Cluster for Education will serve as a vital platform for these agencies to collaborate more closely, ensuring aligned efforts and unified direction under the leadership and guidance of the President,' he added. The call for a Cabinet-level cluster aligns with President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos's directive last August 2024 for education agencies to create a comprehensive 10-year education and workforce development strategy, an essential next step to assure the effective implementation of the strategy. 'With the persistent job-skills mismatch, underwhelming outcomes in senior high school, and the learning crisis revealed by EDCOM 2, a high-level, coordinated approach is crucial to help our students. This cluster will provide the strategic direction and coherence needed to ensure that every Filipino learner—whether bound for college or the workforce—is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, and opportunities to succeed,' said EDCOM 2 Commissioner Rep. Pablo John Garcia. According to EDCOM 2, the initiative had received endorsement from key government agencies, education stakeholders, and experts, who backed the call for increased alignment within the education sector and the strategic allocation of resources toward urgent national goals. Meanwhile, the Senate's version of the resolution was endorsed by EDCOM 2 commissioners, including senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Allan Peter Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, and Loren Legarda. Senators Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, highlighted its significance in improving education quality, saying that the establishment of such a body has been long overdue. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- GMA Network
PH Embassy in Israel preparing contingency plans amid airstrikes
The Philippine Embassy in Israel has convened its crisis management team, bringing together key embassy officials and representatives from the Migrant Workers Office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to review contingency measures as deadly airstrikes send jitters in the country and across the region. Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau confirmed that previously identified shelters for Filipinos have been reactivated and essential goods have been pre-positioned across various locations in Israel. "[We convened] to review the contingency plan. Tapos tignan 'yung current situation kung anong nangyayari. Doon sa meeting namin kahapon, we discussed 'yung purchasing once again ng mga essential goods na puwede i-preposition sa mga iba-ibang locations natin dito sa Israel," Mendiola-Rau said. (We are reviewing the contingency plan and the current situation. We'll see what will happen. In our meeting yesterday, we discussed again the purchase of essential goods that we can pre-position at different locations here in Israel.) She added, "Chineck din natin status ng mga shelters, 'yung mga ginamit din natin the last time, no? Nu'ng nandito ka. So, nire-renew natin yung mga usap, 'yung mga arrangements natin doon sa mga shelters na 'yun para 'pag gumrabe pa 'yung sitwasyon, our people have somewhere to go." (The status of shelters that we used last time was also checked. We renewed talks and arrangements for those shelters so that if the situation worsens, our people have somewhere to go.) Residents in Israel, including Filipinos, are witnessing relentless airstrikes and rocket alerts, with security apps frequently updating them on the situation. "Ang nai-encounter natin ngayon since yesterday, barrage of missiles, walang humpay eh, sa iba-ibang parts sa iba-ibang parts ng Israel," Mendiola-Rau stated. (Since yesterday, we have encountered a barrage of missiles that seem relentless. These hit different parts of Israel.) LIST: DMW shares hotlines amid Israel-Iran tensions More than 50,000 Filipinos either work or reside in Israel, many of whom are accustomed to conflict situations. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) told reporters at a Saturday press conference in Quezon City that the figure is at 20,000 Filipinos in Israel, 13,000 of whom are documented and 6,000 are undocumented. DMW offices across the Middle East were placed under heightened alert due to the Israel-Iran conflict. As of posting time, no Filipino casualties have been reported. Although a mandatory evacuation order has yet to be issued, nine OFWs have already contacted the embassy, expressing their desire for repatriation according to the Philippine Embassy. However, both Israeli and Jordanian airspace remained closed, halting outbound flights. The embassy is now exploring alternative evacuation routes. "We're checking 'yung mga possibilities kung paano ma-repatriate ang mga kababayan natin. Kasi ang airspace ngayon ng Israel at ng Jordan, closed eh. So walang aircrafts na puwede mag-take off... So we're looking at other possibilities in case na lumala pa 'yung sitwasyon. We're doing, we're coming up with plans to bring our people out. Not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or towards Egypt. Tapos siyempre, ico-consider natin din 'yung repatriation by sea," she said. (We're checking possibilities on how to repatriate our countrymen. The airspace over Israel and Jordan is closed. No aircraft can take off... So, we're looking at other possibilities in case the situation worsens. We're doing, we're coming up with plans to bring our people out. Not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or towards Egypt. Of course, we are considering repatriation by sea.) The Philippine Embassy has urged Filipinos in Israel to strictly follow government-issued safety protocols, including avoiding outdoor movement, refraining from gatherings like Sunday Mass, and immediately heading to bomb shelters upon receiving alerts or hearing rocket sirens. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
DMW shares hotlines amid Israel-Iran tensions
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which is on heightened alert, has activated its 24/7 Middle East Help Desk for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. OFWs and OFW families needing help or information could reach DMW-OWWA through the following numbers: DMW-OWWA Help Desk: 1348 For those abroad: +63 2 1348 The agency also released a list of emergency contact numbers of its Migrant Workers' Offices in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. ISRAEL Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv: +972 54-4661188 MWO: +972 50-7622590 OWO: +972 50-7156937 LEBANON Philippine Embassy in Beirut: +961 70 858 086 MWO in Beirut: +961 79 110 729 JORDAN MWO in Amman: +962 7 8149 1183 ; +962 7 8519 1891 "The Department urges all OFWs in Israel and Iran to remain indoors and stay alert, and stay connected with the Philippine Embassy or MWOs in their respective host countries," it said. "OFWs are also advised to refrain from spreading or sharing unverified information which may cause unnecessary panic and confusion," the DMW added. — Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA Integrated News
