President Marcos neither confirmed nor denied the revelations made by his son, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, about the collapse of the UniTeam alliance, but said his son would not lie.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the President did not issue a statement on his son’s recent remarks, in which the younger Marcos revealed that three individuals from the previous administration demanded control over key government positions when the President sought his predecessor’s endorsement in the 2022 elections.

"Actually tinanong ko rin mismo si Pangulo, kanina. At ang sabi lamang sa akin ay (I personally asked the President earlier. And what he only told me was), he has raised his kids well, and his son, Cong Sandro, will not lie. Yun lang po ang binigay na mensahe ng Pangulo (That was the only message he gave)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Aug. 10.

In an interview, the President's son admitted he foresaw the early breakup of the UniTeam—an alliance between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.

He recalled that when his father sought the endorsement of Malacañang during former president Rodrigo Duterte's time, they asked for several conditions that they get to choose the Executive Secretary, the Speaker, the Senate President.

The congressman did not reveal the names of the officials who met them during their visit to Malacañan, but hinted that one of them is a current sitting official. Castro also refused to name names, saying the Palace respects the move of the President's son.

Castro also refused to name names, saying the Palace respects the President's son's move.  

"Kahit siguro mabanggit, since ang sinabi naman po ni Congressman Sandro Marcos, ay hindi na po niya babanggitin ang mga identity nito. Igagalang po natin na manatiling kung ano na lang po niya sinabi ni Congressman Sandro (Even if they are mentioned, since Congressman Sandro Marcos has said that he will no longer disclose their identities, we will respect his decision and leave it at what Congressman Sandro has already said)," Castro said.

Aside from excessive demands, the Ilocos Norte Representative also cited that a power struggle contributed to the eventual fallout of the UniTeam.

Castro said "Congressman Sandro Marcos himself saw the situation, which is why he was able to say that."

She stressed that the alleged demands may not have been granted "because they would not have been beneficial to the people, particularly in terms of public funds and the national interest."

"Kaya hindi napagbigyan siguro ng ibang mga kahilingan, kaya sinasabi namin may power struggles, dahil may mga grupo na gustong manatili na posisyon at hawakan at kontrolin ang Pangulo at hindi iyon pinayagan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. (Perhaps that is why some of the requests were not granted. This is why we say there were power struggles, because there were groups that wanted to remain in certain positions and to hold and control the President, and President Marcos Jr. did not allow that)," Castro said.

Asked what the Palace thinks of the reason the Duterte camp allegedly demanded the right to choose key positions in exchange for support for Marcos' candidacy, Castro said she cannot give the President's opinion on it.

She, however, said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) thinks the ultimate objective of such demands was to oust the President.

"Ang nakikita ng PCO dito, power struggle, kontrolin ang Pangulo (What the PCO sees here it power struggle, to control the President), maybe, the plan to remove the President like what happened before. That's the opinion of PCO, not the President's," Castro said.