Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has appealed to the country’s top leaders to cease their ongoing verbal clashes, citing the need to prioritize the nation’s stability over personal differences.
“I think the less we talk about that, the better. My God, we are one country, one people,” Enrile told reporters in an ambush interview Tuesday night.
“We have to fight our political debates in a very straightforward manner. Let us cool it down, cool it down for the sake of the country,” he said.
Enrile was referring to the escalating word war between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
The former Senate president‘s reaction was sought after he accepted a Senate resolution honoring him for his contributions to the country.
Sponsored by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the resolution honored Enrile for his untiring service and contributions to the country and the Filipino people.
“This is a man who is not only an eyewitness to the many historic events of our nation but who actually took part and actually shaped them,” Escudero said in his sponsorship speech.
Enrile was also part of the Cabinet of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Lacson urges de-escalation
Former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson also called for the de-escalation of tensions between the country’s two top leaders, stressing that the political instability has a negative effect on the economy.
“While the perennial warmongers whose pastime is to make their day complete with their passion for gossip and entertainment be it between showbiz couples or political allies resulting in intense conflict and their eventual irreconcilable separation, the majority of us who are sober and discerning feel sad and concerned how this development could affect the future of our country,” Lacson said.
He said one potential negative effect of prolonged tensions between the two highest officials would be to discourage potential investors from pursuing their planned investments or to have second thoughts about doing business in the Philippines.
“Let’s all help each other. We have undergone several challenges in the past. And we were able to pull through. All conflicts, challenges and issues can be resolved,” he said.
“We must all bear in mind that the great Singaporean leader Lee Kwan Yew once said: ‘When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,’” Lacson added.
Bishop calls for prayers
Amid the rift between two powerful political clans — the Marcoses and the Dutertes — a bishop has called on the public to “pray for our political leaders.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, lamented that the “brewing political storm that our political leaders are facing has drained their energy to serve those in most need and the neglected.”
Advincula noted that the current events in the country “have been disconcerting” as many Filipinos were still reeling from the onslaught of the successive typhoons.
“I humbly exhort you all to pray for them that they may receive the grace to exercise statesmanship in these most trying times so that sobriety may prevail in our land and political issues and personal interests may not divide the nation,” Advincula said.
“It is our prayer that they may have the humility to listen to each other with respect and act together for the sake of the country,” he added.
The prelate also asked the leaders “from different sectors of our society to do what they can to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts.”
“Let us all pray for forgiveness and reconciliation, never doubting God’s grace and love for His people,” Advincula said.
“In Jesus, the Good Shepherd, I entrust you all who are called to serve the common good. May Almighty God bless our beloved country,” he said.
Decorum at EDSA Shrine
On Tuesday, Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, rector of the EDSA Shrine called for proper decorum as hundreds gathered in the sacred place “for reasons known only to them, and for some, unknown to them.”
This after several Duterte loyalists urged fellow supporters to hold their own people power movement to express their dissatisfaction with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation summoned Vice President Sara Duterte for questioning over her weekend statements that she had contracted someone to assassinate Marcos if she were killed.
Meanwhile, Marcos said in a national address on Monday that he would fight “reckless and troubling threats” against him and would not allow such criminal attempts to pass, without naming Duterte.