ANTIPOLO City Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos, D.D. on Wednesday called for “deeper moral reflection” following Senator Imee Marcos’ public tirade against her brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
“As a bishop and servant of the Filipino people, I speak not to condemn, but to call all of us—especially our leaders—to a deeper moral reflection… Yes, the public has a legitimate right to be informed about the health and capacity of its leaders, especially the President. But publicly accusing a family member—without due process, without clear evidence, and outside the proper forum—undermines not only these values but also the dignity of all involved,” Santos said in a statement.
He described Imee’s diatribe as “troubling” not only for its contents but also for its delivery.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos meanwhile, pushed back against allegations about her and the President, indirectly calling out the spread of “fake news” in a social media post.
Santos emphasized that according to the Gospel, correction should first be done in private conversation before being made public.
According to him, the senator’s statements caused danger instead of helping in healing and understanding.
Despite the incident, the bishop is hopeful that it will serve as an opportunity for all involved to “reflect and listen to their conscience, forgive and heal, and change if there is anything that needs to be corrected.”
“Families are not perfect, but they are meant to be places of reconciliation. Public figures, too, must model this grace—not only for their kin, but for the nation watching,” said Santos who is also parish priest of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
In a social media post on Wednesday midnight, Nov.19, the First Lady Marcos shared photos of her meeting with a producer, director, and actors who were filming a movie in the country.
“We then talked about the script of their movie and I bit my tongue because I wanted to say:
‘Welcome to entertainment – Pinoy style! Only in Pinas will you find a plot full of holes and actors who can’t deliver and a climax that leaves entire communities underwater,” her post read.
Minutes later, the First Lady posted a photo of a fabricated art card, appearing to allude to Sen. Imee Marcos’ allegation that she and the President were using illegal drugs.
“And speaking of fake news… ‘welcome to entertainment, Pinoy style,” her second post stated.
