Malacañang has responded to Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte’s accusation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “ungrateful” for the actions taken by his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on his behalf.

During the 88th Araw ng Dabaw, Duterte said his father allowed Marcos’ father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., to be buried at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB) in 2016.

Last week, the family’s patriarch was transported to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was surrendered by Philippine authorities to Interpol as part of the Philippines’ commitment to the organization, according to Marcos himself.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Marcos has expressed his appreciation for the burial of his father at the LNMB as early as 2016.

“The President has already thanked the Supreme Court – back in 2016 – for the ruling that his father should be buried at the Heroes' Cemetery,” she said in Filipino.

She also cited the President’s message for former president Duterte.

“I will read the message, it was 2016 when former Senator Bongbong Marcos expressed his gratitude and I quote, ‘We also would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever be thankful for this kind gesture.’ They expressed their gratitude back then and said that they will forever be grateful for the wonderful gesture of former President Duterte,” Castro added.

The Palace Press Officer argued that expressing gratitude should “not derail or betray the law and justice.”

Malacañang earlier said that the arrest of the elder Duterte was done in accordance with the law.

Castro also explained that Marcos Sr.’s burial was also done in accordance with the law, citing Republic Act 289, which allows for the burial of a former president of the Philippines at the LNMB.

“Former president Duterte used the law – this is related to RA 289 regarding burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and it was amended by Presidential Proclamation 208 of former President Marcos and there is also an AFP regulation G-161-373 which includes the President or Commander in Chief entitled to interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” she noted.

Proclamation 208 established a portion of Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation in Taguig and reserved it for national shrine purposes, which later on became the LNMB.

Castro further explained that as Marcos Sr.’s burial was done according to the law, the arrest of Duterte was also done according to the law, stressing the country’s commitments with Interpol.

"The enforcement of the law should not be stopped by indebtedness. As I said, the enforcement of the law, the implementation of the commitment with Interpol, should not be betrayed. Just because we are friends or have become partners, we should not stop obeying the law and betraying the Constitution just because of indebtedness," she said.