Palace: Reconciliation must have no conditions

Bring Duterte home first Go, Panelo

- By HELEN FLORES

While voicing his openness to reconciling with his political foes including the Duterte family, President Marcos won't let them set conditions for accepting his offer, Malacañang made clear yesterday.

"Yes, because this is for the people and the country," Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked to clarify if Marcos has not attached conditions to his reconciliation overtures.

Castro also said the President will definitely not reconcile with his political opponents at the expense of the law.

She was reacting to pronouncements from former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo that reconciliation would only be possible if Marcos takes steps to bring former president Rodrigo Duterte back to the country.

Sen. Bong Go also said Marcos should ensure Duterte's return to the country if he really is sincere in his offer of reconciliation.

"I am requesting that if you are sincere, bring back Tatay Digong here," Go said in a chance interview yesterday.

"If you were able to send (away) Tatay Digong within 14 hours, you can bring him back as soon as possible," Go said.

"He sacrificed everything, but you only sent him to The Hague."

He clarified that he is not speaking on behalf of the Dutertes and that his "personal thought is sincerity is important and the first action here is to bring Tatay Digong home." At a briefing, Castro emphasized the President cannot be manipulated.

"Bear in mind, the President cannot be held by the neck and dictated upon to do wrong. He will not turn his back on the law or twist it just to serve the personal interests of a few," Castro said.

"So let's put this in mind - the President is always on the side of the law. Friend or law? The President will always choose the law," she added.