Malacañang and Congress leaders pushed back against claims that incumbent President Marcos is veering toward dictatorship and may declare martial law, dismissing the allegations as baseless political intrigue that is “irrational, baseless and untrue.”
On Monday, newly minted PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro questioned credibility of former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing his history of peddling misinformation and disinformation.
“What’s the evidence? How can it be proven? We cannot just believe baseless intrigues. Even during his time as prosecutor, Duterte admitted he was an expert in fabricating stories and planting evidence. We saw that happen in the case of former Sen. Leila de Lima,” she said.
Duterte, during a rally in Mandaue City on Saturday, speculated that Mr. Marcos might follow in the footsteps of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and declare martial law to extend his rule beyond 2028.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero called Duterte’s allegations “inconsistent” and “irrational.”
“I do not agree and do not subscribe to his accusation at all,” Escudero said in a Viber message to reporters.
“When their claim that PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) was a weak leader who was not in control did not gain traction, they now accuse him of the exact opposite, alleging dictatorial tendencies. This is not only inconsistent but also baseless,” he said.
“I do not subscribe to (Duterte’s) statement because I simply do not see it and cannot infer nor believe it from PBBM’s attitude, outlook, and work ethic,” Escudero added.
At the Lower House, lawmakers brushed aside Duterte’s accusations, saying his latest tirade may have been motivated by his daughter’s possible ouster as Vice President.
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union called the former President a harbinger of fake news.
He said: “The alleged declaration of martial law is – again – fake news. Hello, Mr. Fake News. Doesn’t anything come out of your mouth except fake news?”
For his part, House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur asked how the incumbent Chief Executive can be a dictator when he has been on the receiving end of threats and insults yet has not retaliated.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred to Duterte’s claims as baseless and ridiculous statements, calling the former president as a “one-man fake news factory.”