MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not involved in the selling of gold reserves, contrary to a claim of former president Rodrigo Duterte in a campaign rally recently.
According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary Claire Castro, selling of gold reserves, which form part of the country’s Gross International Reserves (GIR), is a regular activity of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to help stimulate the economy.
“Wala ba siyang economic experts na magsasabi sa kanya kung ano ba talaga ang regular activities ng BSP,” Castro said. “Sinabi nga dito ang pagbebenta ng gold, kung mataas ang dapat ibenta.”
Castro also challenged the former chief executive to prove his claim that President Marcos is involved in the selling of gold reserves.
“Hindi ba ito campaign joke ulit ni dating Pangulong Duterte? Hindi pa ba tayo nasanay dun sa jetski promise niya?” Castro said. “Laging pa-intriga. All we want here is evidence. Ipakita niya.”
Castro said the government will take such erroneous statements seriously, and counter them with correct information.
“We will take this seriously para naman hindi magkaroon ng fake news lalo na sa mga taong nakikinig sa kanya, at maaaring naniniwala,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the BSP said the country’s GIR is held and managed solely by the central bank for the foreign exchange requirements of the country. Proceeds of any sales stay within the GIR.
The BSP also assured that it will maintain a portion of its reserves in gold to safeguard “against offset, movements in the market price of other assets.”/PN
