President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. seemed to have acknowledged a power struggle in the House of Representatives after saying that he would not comment on the issue.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte, and former president Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (file photos)

Marcos said this following the surprise resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte as a member of the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), on Friday, May 19.

In a speech in Clark, Pampanga, the President preempted questions about the seeming power struggle in the House of Representatives that involved his closest allies.

"I won't make any comments about the speakership," the President said as he took the podium after being introduced by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Duterte's resignation from Lakas-CMD came after the party's chairman emeritus, former president and Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was replaced as senior deputy speaker at the House of Representatives.

Speaker Romualdez, who is Marcos' cousin, is the party's president. Both Duterte and Romualdez were reelected as chairperson and president of Lakas-CMD last February.

On Friday morning, Duterte assured the public that her commitment to serve the country will remain unchanged and that she will continue working with President Marcos.

She added that she would not be swayed by what she hinted was political "toxicity" and "powerplay."

"I am here today because of the trust of the Filipino people in me to lead and serve them and the country, and this cannot be poisoned by political toxicity or undermined by execrable political powerplay," Duterte stated.

"I call on all leaders to focus on the work that must be done and leave a legacy of a strong and stable homeland," she added.