By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday refuted former president Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is leaning toward dictatorship, calling them 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 added.
Escudero, who has known Marcos for over a decade and worked closely with him for nearly a year, dismissed the claim outright.
“I do not subscribe to FPRRD’s (former president Rodrigo R. Duterte) 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 the accusation during an indignation rally in Mandaue City on Saturday, speculating that 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.
Malacañang also refuted Duterte’s allegations, with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stating the administration does not take them seriously.
“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.
He characterized Duterte’s claim as a “budol (scam), calling it a product of a “one-man fake news factory.”
Bersamin reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to upholding democratic principles.
He also assured the public that the Marcos administration “will not backslide into the oppressive ways of the previous administration.” (PNA)
