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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos tells Duterte: Happy birthday, 'nothing personal'

Marcos tells Duterte: Happy birthday, 'nothing personal'

Published Mar 14, 2024 05:05 am

At A Glance

  • Former president Rodrigo Duterte will celebrate his 79th birthday on March 28.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Despite the attacks he has been receiving recently from his predecessor, President Marcos said he still wishes former president Rodrigo Duterte a happy birthday, stressing that he does not take his tirades personally.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool)

Marcos said this in anticipation of Duterte's 79th birthday celebration on March 28.

In an interview, the President, asked if he had a message for Duterte's birthday, said he values important occasions such as his predecessor's birthday.

"We will, of course, wish him a happy birthday, and many happy returns," he told Manila-based reporters.

"Alam mo naman tayong mga Pilipino ginagalang natin 'yung mga very important occasions na ganyan (You know us Filipinos, we respect very important occasions such as this)," he added.

Early this week, Duterte hit Marcos anew, claiming that the latter was seeking to extend his term with the talks of charter change. The former president likewise accused Marcos of gallivanting overseas.

President Marcos admitted that he was getting confused with Duterte's opinion of him and that he would have to study his predecessor's statements further.

"Nako-confuse kasi ako kay PRRD (Duterte), papalit-palit, eh (I'm getting confused with PRRD because he's always changing his opinion)," he said on Wednesday afternoon (Germany time).

"I think hindi ko talaga naintindihan kasi parang naiiba, bawat salita niya iba, eh (I really don't understand him because he's always changing). So, I will try to make sense of it," he continued.

Despite this, Marcos said he is not taking any of Duterte's tirades personally as he could separate work from his personal issues.

"Hindi ako namemersonal (I don't take things personally)," he said.

"Para sa akin, hindi naman madali, pero nahihiwalay ko 'yung trabaho at saka 'yung personal (For me, it's not easy but I'm able to separate work from personal issues). So, I don’t see a problem there," he added.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos President Duterte PBBM in Europe President Marcos
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