MANILA – Malacañang refuted claims that the Dutertes played a role in the Marcoses’ resurgence to power, emphasizing that it was the Filipino voters who chose President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, former President Rodrigo Duterte previously referred to Marcos as a “weak leader” ahead of the 2022 presidential elections.
“Ang nagpabalik po kay Pangulong Marcos [sa pwesto] ay ang taumbayan, hindi iisang tao. Pinakita po ni Pangulong Marcos kung ano ang kakayanan niya,” Castro said in a media briefing at the Malacañang Palace.
“Mismong ang Pangulong Duterte ang hindi naniniwala kay Pangulong Marcos. He even said that PBBM is a weak leader,” she added. “Papaano niya masasabi na inangat niya ang dignidad ni Pangulong Marcos kung siya mismo dati ang nagbababa dito.”
Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has previously said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. utilized her solely for his victory in the 2022 elections.
According to Duterte-Carpio, Sen. Imee Marcos told her that Bongbong needed her (Sara) to secure votes from the Visayas and Mindanao regions to defeat former presidential candidate and ex-Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Nagamit? Yes, clear naman ‘yon… tinanong ko bakit ako? And then she said matatalo kami ni Leni kung di mo dadalhin ang mga Bisaya,” Duterte-Carpio said in a previous press conference./PN
