Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero defended President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. against recent allegations that the latter is “veering toward dictatorship” to keep his post.

Escudero described the accusations made by former president Rodrigo Duterte as “inconsistent and irrational.”

“I do not agree and do not subscribe to his accusation at all,” Escudero said in a Viber message to reporters on Monday.

Escudero lamented the “inconsistent” criticisms directed at Marcos.

“When their accusation that PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) was a weak leader who was not in control did not fly, now they are accusing him of the exact opposite, claiming he supposedly has dictatorial tendencies,” he said.

“It is not only inconsistent but also irrational and untrue,” he added.

In refuting Duterte’s claim, Escudero expressed his personal judgment about Marcos’ character.

“I have known the President for over a decade and have had the privilege of working closely with him for nearly a year now,” he said.

Escudero further defended Marcos, citing his understanding of the President's behavior, perspective, and work ethic.

“I can say with certainty that I do not subscribe to FPRRD’s statement because I simply do not see it and cannot infer nor believe it from PBBM’s attitude, outlook, and work ethic,” he said.

Duterte made these accusations against Marcos during the indignation rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) in Mandaue City last Saturday.

Duterte suggested it would no longer be surprising if Marcos followed in the footsteps of his father and namesake, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and declared Martial Law to secure his post beyond 2028.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also refuted the former president's remarks, calling them “baseless and ridiculous statements.”

“This hoax is another budol emerging from a one-man fake-news factory,” he said.

In September 1972, Marcos Sr. declared martial law and stayed in power until the EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986, which compelled him and his family to flee the country.

In his previous interviews, Marcos Jr. defended his father’s declaration of martial law, stressing it was not to remain in power but to address the problems of communist and separatist rebellions at the time.

"Martial law was declared because of the wars, the two wars we were fighting on two fronts. Those were the dangers, the perils the country was facing,” he explained.