Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino called for peace in the word war between the Marcoses and Dutertes, saying the country stands to lose in the bickering among kin of the country’s two top leaders.
Tolentino, from former president Rodrigo Duterte’s party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), claimed the Marcos-Duterte coalition remains alive
despite the falling out between the Vice President and the First Lady.
“It is lamentable because I supported both. We don’t want this coalition to collapse,” Tolentino said in a dwIZ interview yesterday.
“These disagreements will not be for the country’s good. We have a lot of problems that can be solved with all hands on deck,” he added.
“I pray for unity and agreement for the citizens’ welfare,” the senator said.
He made the statement following a rift between Vice President Sara Duterte and First Lady Liza Marcos, with the latter saying in an interview that the Vice President crossed the line when she attended a rally that mocked the President.
The First Lady also hinted at tension with the President’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, when she described herself as an “out-law” when it comes to her relationship with the elder sister.
The STAR reached out to Senator Marcos yesterday for her comment but she has yet to respond.
PDP-Laban stalwarts have also distanced themselves from the tirades of former president Duterte against President Marcos.
at a press conference in Cebu City on Friday, party president and Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez said that Duterte, being the party’s chairman and a former president, has the liberty to “say anything he wants.”
However, he underscored that party hierarchy has nothing to do with it.
“We, in the party hierarchy, we are consolidators, we are peacemakers, we are the forefront for peace and prosperity of the nation. So whatever rhetoric above us, please don’t involve us,” he noted.
Alvarez also did not comment when asked about the statements of the First Lady.
“We don’t have a stand on that… Let us not drag the party into it,” he added.
The lawmaker said PDP-Laban leaders and members were in Cebu City for “a fellowship and to greet one another coming from the different islands in the Visayas, Luzon and Mindanao.”
“We should not associate this meeting that we are in a combative mood. We are not. Let’s make that very clear,” he added.
But Alvarez announced that they are supporting Tolentino and two other reelectionist-senators, Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa.” — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Sheila Crisostomo
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Credit belongs to: www.philstar.com
