Malacañang has refuted former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is planning to declare martial law to extend his term, dismissing it as misinformation. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin responded by branding Duterte 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 statement as deceptive.
Duterte made the claim during a rally in Mandaue City, suggesting that Marcos Jr. might follow in the footsteps of his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who declared martial law in 1972. “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 said.
Bersamin rejected the accusation, reassuring the public that the administration remains committed to democracy and constitutional governance. “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 stated.
The Palace also criticized Duterte’s administration, accusing it of persecuting political opponents and encouraging extrajudicial actions. Bersamin remarked, “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 highlights the deepening political rift between the Marcos and Duterte camps. Malacañang has urged the public to be vigilant against misinformation and to rely on credible sources for accurate news.
