Malacañang on Wednesday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomes the diverse political affiliations of the new senators-elect and hopes they will immediately do their legislative work to serve the Filipino people.

“Ngayon po na naboto na po ang mga susunod na mga leaders natin, umaasa ang Pangulo na ang bawat isa, ang lahat sa kanila na binoto ng sambayanan ay tutugon sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told a Palace press briefing.

Castro said that the President is committed to addressing the concerns and needs of the Filipino people.

“Ang trabaho po nila ay para sa bayan, para sa taong-bayan – hindi para sa iilang interes. So, anumang kulay iyan, wini-welcome po talaga ng Pangulo na makaisa ang bawat leaders natin para tugunan kung anuman ang problema at mabigyang-solusyon ang pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin,” Castro added.

Castro said President Marcos is satisfied with Monday’s senatorial election results, noting that most of the senators-elect are “pro-Filipino” and “not pro-foreign interests.”

She added that the President is hopeful the newly elected lawmakers, who will comprise the 20th Congress, will support and actively advance the administration’s pro-people legislative agenda.

“Satisfied po ang Pangulo dahil nalaman po natin na ang iba pang mga naboto ay mayroong sariling dignidad, may sariling paniniwala at ang karamihan po doon ay para sa bayan at hindi para sa ibang bansa,” Castro said.

Castro reiterated that the administration respects the will of the people and called on all newly elected lawmakers to cross party lines and work together for the country.

“Iyan po ang ibinoto ng taumbayan, gagalangin po natin. At kung ito po’y makakatulong sa administrasyon, uulitin po natin, kahit ano pa ang kulay po niyan, dapat isipin po ng mga bagong halal na sila po ay magtatrabaho para sa bansa, para sa taumbayan – hindi pang-personal na interes o interes ng kanilang mga kaibigan o kanilang mga sinusulong na tao,” Castro said.

“Kapag po nalaman po nila na ang gagawing proyekto o programa ng Pangulo ay para sa taumbayan, umaasa po tayo na sila po ay makikiisa,” she added.

A day after the May 12 elections, President Marcos urged all newly elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, to unite and work for the nation’s benefit.

“To the newly elected, regardless of party or coalition, I extend my hand. Let us move forward together—with open minds and a common purpose,” the President said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Public service goes beyond elections. The work of nation-building needs all who are ready to serve,” President Marcos said. | PND