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Palace on Marcos' tirades vs Alyansa rivals: It's just part of campaign propaganda
Palace on Marcos' tirades vs Alyansa rivals: It's just part of campaign propaganda
President Marcos' criticisms against candidates outside his senatorial slate for the 2025 midterm elections were just part of the campaign propaganda, Malacañang said.
He was also not referring to certain candidates, Palace press officer Claire Castro said.
Responding to a question during a Palace briefing if the President was the one initiating a negative campaign against other parties, Castro defended Marcos' statements at the campaign sorties of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, where he seemed to be taking a swipe at the candidates who are allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
"[P]atungkol po kung sa nauna ang Pangulo sa pagbabatikos, it’s just part of the campaign propaganda and wala naman po siyang pinatungkulan kung sino (Regarding the issue of the President initiating the tirade war, it's just part of the campaign propaganda, and he is not referring to any one)," Castro said on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
"Ang nagtataka lang po ulit tayo kung bakit nag-aray, hindi naman sila iyong pinatutungkulan, kumbaga ano ito, “Bato, bato sa langit, tamaan ay huwag magalit.” Bakit may nagalit? May tinamaan ba (I'm just wondering, why are there people who think the President was referring to them. This is just like: Throw a stone into the sky; whoever gets hit, don't get mad. Why are some getting angry? Does it fit the shoe)? Castro further said.
On the President's remark about some candidates who seemed were only asked to buy vinegar, Castro said Marcos did not mean it literally. He was, instead, referring to those candidates who are running for office but lack experience.
The new Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary also made a pronouncement that Malacañang will not respond to senseless intrigues.
"Ang sasagutin lang natin ay iyong mga intriga na may sense. Kung wala namang meaning, walang sense, hindi po natin ito sasagutin (We will only respond to intrigues that have sense. If it's meaningless, senseless, we will not respond to them)," she said.
In the previous proclamation rallies of the Alyansa, which the President attended, he consistently made mention of the crimes and corruption allegations during the Duterte administration, highlighting the bloody war on drugs, the crimes related to the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).