Palace defends Marcos, Recto: Wage hike, VAT removal are Congress’ duty

The Malacañang Palace has come to the defense of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against claims that labor reforms have been stalled by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. In a response from Russia, Palace press officer Claire Castro refuted accusations from a lawmaker who alleged no labor-related legislation had passed under Marcos' administration. Meanwhile, Recto emphasized that wage hikes and VAT removal are tasks for Congress, not the executive branch. This spat highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches regarding labor reform and fiscal policies.