Malacañang on Tuesday said the ongoing turmoil in the Senate is beginning to affect not only the passage of key legislation but also investor confidence and the broader economy.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement after Senate proceedings were disrupted following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on plunder and graft charges linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Castro said the Executive Branch remains committed to working with the Senate regardless of its leadership but stressed that lawmakers should continue performing their legislative duties.

“Sa parte ng Pangulo, sa parte ng ehekutibo, wala pong magiging isyu. Kahit sino po ang lider sa Kongreso, makikipag-ugnayan at makikipag-cooperate ang ehekutibo para lamang maipasa ang mga priority bills para sa taumbayan (On the part of the President and the executive, there won’t be any issue. Regardless who leads Congress, the executive will work and coordinate to pass priority bills for the people),” she said in a press briefing.

She noted that senators could have continued their work despite the developments involving Estrada.

“Hindi naman po kinakailangan na hindi magtrabaho kahapon. Maski ang paghatid at pagsama kay Senator Jinggoy Estrada bilang kaibigan ay nararapat lamang, pero hindi po kinakailangan talikuran ang sariling mandato para lang sa ganitong klaseng isyu (There’s no need to stop working. Assisting Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in his arrest as a colleague is okay, but there’s no need to stop carrying out their mandate because of this issue),” Castro said.

The Palace official warned that prolonged political tensions in the Senate could have wider repercussions.

“Kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa Senado, mahihirapan po talaga hindi lamang ang Pangulo kung hindi ang taumbayan (What is happening in the Senate will really affect not only the President but also the people),” Castro said.

“Apektado ang taumbayan dito. Pati po ang ekonomiya ay maaapektuhan sa ingay at gulo sa Senado (The people will be affected here. Even the economy will be affected by the noise and chaos in the Senate),” she added.

Castro was responding to concerns that several administration-backed priority measures may remain pending as Congress nears adjournment.

The Senate is currently facing severe instability following the June 1 arrest of Estrada on plunder and graft charges involving over PHP573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects.

In a dramatic show of protest, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and the 13-member majority bloc boycotted plenary sessions, arguing that the legal actions against their colleague threaten the chamber’s institutional independence.

This follows a high-profile security breach on May 13, where Sen. Ronald dela Rosa allegedly escaped the Senate complex during a lockdown to evade an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and the walkout of minority senators over debates in plenary procedures. (PNA)