Malacañang has assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not give in to any demands that are illegal or contrary to the law.
This statement comes after some allies and supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that for reconciliation to happen, President Duterte must first be brought back to the Philippines.
President Marcos had earlier expressed in a podcast interview that he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family.
However, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that President Marcos will not allow himself to be manipulated or pressured into decisions that defy legal standards just to serve the personal interests of a few.
Castro further asserted that reconciliation must come without preconditions.
She also clarified that the President’s reconciliation call is not solely directed at the Dutertes but to all sectors of society.
President Marcos, she said, seeks unity among all Filipinos to ensure continued progress and governance for the benefit of the nation.
Castro stressed that the President will always choose the law over loyalty to friends.