Malacañang on Thursday said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is not taking political attacks from his critics sitting down, as evidenced by his spirited speeches during recent political rallies.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said that while the public expects Mr. Marcos to be more subdued and issue-based, he occasionally needs to respond to political jabs to assert his leadership.
“At times, the President needs to be transparent about his sentiments so the public understands that he is not—and will never be—a weak leader,” Castro said.
She maintained that while Mr. Marcos’ rallies are not just about political rhetoric, responding to attacks when necessary is part of the President’s strategy.
Since the start of the campaign period for the national post, the President has been taking swipes against the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing various issues that hounded his predecessor.
In the kickoff rally of the administration-backed ‘Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ coalition, the chief executive urged Filipinos to scrutinize candidates’ records, vowing his Senate slate is free from corruption, foreign influence, and past controversies.
The President contrasted his lineup with opposition bets – criticizing ties to China, POGO-related crimes, and human rights violations.
“None of them have blood on their hands because of Tokhang. None of them were involved in pocketing sacks of money, exploiting the pandemic crisis, or abandoning our people to sickness and death,” he added.
Mr. Marcos questioned the past administration’s handling of foreign relations and national security.
In particular, he questioned why opposing candidates have not taken a firm stand “when we are bombarded with water, when our Coast Guard is hit, when our fishermen are blocked, their catch stolen, and our islands seized.”
