ILOILO – “[The clash] does not affect us [Iloilo province],”
This is the simple and concise reply of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. when asked about the ongoing “clash” between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
According to Defensor, he has not fully monitored what is happening in the national political scene, as the entire provincial government has its hands full in hosting the recently concluded Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan, one of the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival 2024, and crafting the province’s education program.
“Waay ko na masubaybayan. You know saku kita diri sa probinsya, and right now, wala ko matagaan sang attention to those that have nothing to do with the affairs of the Iloilo provincial government and our people,” he said.
When further asked about Duterte’s dare for Marcos to undergo a drug test, Defensor said he would leave it up to the law and added that “we have better things to do.”
“We are in the middle of implementing a very good education program, which is why indi kita knowledgeable about what is happening sa national scene, but we prefer it that way,” he further said.
Defensor is under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Marcos’ political party.
On Aug. 24, 2023, the governor, together with the others, took oaths to Marcos, who serves as the PFP chair.
Prior, Defensor was a member of the National Unity Party (NUP).
Marcos and Duterte became the center of the news and the attention of netizens last week due to the statements and allegations being thrown at each other.
Duterte dared Marcos to undergo drug test in public to prove that he is not a drug user.
“Set it in Luneta Park, magpakuha siya ng dugo doon [from] independent entity or doctor. Magpakuha rin ako, sige pati ako. Pakuha siya ng blood test,” Duterte said in a press briefing in Davao City.
Duterte also said a Cabinet official uses cocaine with Marcos, and insisted that Marcos was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) — a claim already denied by PDEA.
He also asked Marcos to state why he supposedly underwent rehabilitation in Germany before the start of the campaign period for the 2022 presidential election.
The former president made the statement after Speaker Martin Romualdez, Marcos’ cousin, dared him to prove through evidence his accusation that Marcos is a drug user.
During a prayer rally in Davao City recently, Duterte called Marcos bangag (high on illegal drugs) and accused him of being a drug addict, as he warned the administration against amending the Constitution to perpetuate themselves in power.
Marcos has laughed off the accusation, saying it must be the effect of fentanyl, a drug Duterte has admitted to taking during his term as president.
“It is highly addictive and it has very serious side effects,” Marcos said of fentanyl.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a pain reliever and anesthetic. (With a report from GMA News)/PN
