‘No constitutional crisis yet amid Sara’s remarks’

MANILA, Philippines — While Vice President Sara Duterte’s “reckless and dangerous” remarks – along with her “active threats” – against President Marcos may not yet constitute a constitutional crisis, they could still have serious repercussions, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said yesterday.

Estrada admitted that the ongoing tension between the country’s top leaders could ultimately cause suffering for the Filipino people.

He said he would pray that the two highest elected officials of the land would soon reconcile for the sake of the country.

“There is nothing. I don’t see the constitutional crisis,” the senator said in Filipino in an interview over dzBB.

“I said I will just pray that one day these two highest officials of ours – the President and the Vice President – will come to an agreement. You know, it’s just like a mayor and vice mayor. When the two fight, the people suffer. So I’m just praying that, as soon as possible, they patch things up and get along for the good of our country,” Estrada added.

He said “whatever we aspire, can be obtained through prayer. Anything can be obtained from prayer.”

Estrada raised the friendship of Sen. Imee Marcos – elder sister of the President – with Duterte and suggested the senator could intervene and help settle the matter.

“The friendship between Sen. Marcos and Vice President Duterte could be a big factor. Because, of course, Sen. Marcos is the President’s sister. Maybe through her this could be fixed,” he added.

While he is hopeful the relationship between the two top government officials can be settled, Estrada acknowledged that the security of the President should be strengthened after Duterte made the serious threat against him.

“Well, President Marcos’ security should be tightened. Of course, that’s the head of state. Tighten the security if there is really a threat,” he said.

Senate to decide OVP budget

Meanwhile, earlier reports indicated that eight senators are supportive of the call to give the Office of the Vice President (OVP) an additional budget for 2025.

Estrada said the majority of senators will decide whether or not to give the OVP a budget higher than the P733 million approved by the House of Representatives, which was initially adopted in the Senate deliberation.

“As for me, my stand depends on the majority. And if it means it will greatly benefit the people, why not? But it still depends on the decision of the majority of the Senate,” he said.