Malacañang has rejected former President Rodrigo Duterte’s claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to declare martial law to extend his term, calling the allegations false and misleading. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dismissed Duterte’s statements, referring to him as a “one-man fake news factory.”
“This hoax is another budol emerging from a one-man fake news factory,” Bersamin said, using “budol” to describe Duterte’s remarks as deceptive.
Duterte made the claim during a rally in Mandaue City, suggesting that Marcos Jr. would follow his late father’s example and refuse to step down. “I bet he will not step down after his term. It will be just like his father’s time. He will impose martial law,” Duterte warned.
Bersamin refuted the claim, assuring the public that the administration remains committed to democracy 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 said.
The Palace also criticized the previous administration, accusing it of silencing critics and endorsing extrajudicial actions. Bersamin added, “We 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.”
The exchange underscores the growing political tension between the Marcos and Duterte camps. Malacañang has urged the public to be vigilant against misinformation and to rely on credible sources for accurate information.
