Malacañang on Sunday dismissed former President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest accusations that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is “veering towards a dictatorship.”
During an indignation rally in Mandaue City on Saturday, Duterte said that it would no longer be surprising if Marcos followed the footsteps of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and declared martial law to continue his rule past 2028.
Duterte was ready to put his money where his mouth was, so to speak, when he said he was willing to place a bet on that possibility.
“Mr. Marcos is veering towards a dictatorship. I will place my bet, he will not step down when his term ends. He is like his father. Similar to his father, it will be chaos again when he declares Martial Law just like what his father did,” he said.
In response, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the former president’s remarks are not being taken seriously by the Marcos administration.
“We treat the former president’s baseless and ridiculous statements in the same way that Filipinos are dismissive of them: a tall tale from a man prone to lying and to inventing hoaxes,” Bersamin said in a statement.
Bersamin described Duterte’s statements as another “budol” — (scam or trick often involves deceit or manipulation). “This hoax is another budol emerging from a one-man fake-news factory,” he said.
Bersamin said the administration is steadfast in supporting the principles of the Constitution and the rule of law.
“As our actions have consistently demonstrated, we will stay the course in upholding the Constitution, in adhering to the rule of law, and in respecting the rights of the people,” he stressed.
Bersamin said the Marcos administration “will not backslide into the oppressive ways of the previous administration.”
“When critics were jailed on trumped-up charges and when kill orders were publicly issued with glee and obeyed blindly,” he said of the Duterte administration.
“It is the leader of that troubled past who is depicting us as veering toward a system where anyone can be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law, as many had been on his mere say-so as a tyrant who did not respect the rights of the people,” he added.
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.
Speaking in Filipino, Duterte warned the police and military not to support Marcos Jr.’s alleged ambition for dictatorship. He emphasized that Martial Law or dictatorship is illegal.
Duterte also reminded the public that their gratitude should be directed toward themselves, not just to one individual. The crowd continuously chanted, “Duterte, Duterte, Duterte.”
The former President urged the Cebuano audience to vote for the nine senatorial candidates of Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipino (PDP) to prevent the impeachment of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The candidates are former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, reelectionist Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, singer-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, lawyer Raul Lambino, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, lawyer Jayvee Hinlo and actor Philip Salvador.
Duterte also endorsed local candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Pamela Baricuatro, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and the city’s council slate.
He reiterated that electing the nine PDP senatorial candidates would prevent VP Sara’s impeachment.
The growing tension between Duterte and Marcos has been evident in recent months, with the former president repeatedly criticizing the administration’s policies and leadership style.
Duterte has accused Marcos of failing to address corruption, inflation and national security threats, while also warning against a return to authoritarian rule.
The rift between the two men, who have traded accusations of illegal drug use, widened after Marcos’ allies in the House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
In Manila on Sunday, several groups identified with the administration of the late former President Benigno Aquino started commemorating the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution that installed Cory Aquino to the presidency vice Marcos Sr.
Meanwhile, Benito Ranque, a top supporter of the Vice President, cautioned Marcos against following in his father’s footsteps.
“Declaring martial law at this point would practically erase the spirit of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, which restored democracy in the country,” Ranque told DAILY TRIBUNE. “Never again to martial law. Let the EDSA spirit remain alive.”