Former president Rodrigo Duterte (left) and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Adiong said Monday, Feb. 24, there was no indication that President Marcos was veering toward a dictatorship, as claimed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Adiong wondered how could Marcos become a dictator if he let slide someone publicly cursing him and threatening his life withhout making any retaliation.

The President is not even vindictive, he added.

The lawmaker was referring to the daughter of the former president, impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, who had hurled curses and death threats against Marcos and his wife, Liza.

"Everytime na magkakaroon sila ng rally, ang pinaka-punto nila ang sirain ang isang pagkatao. Hindi lang polisiya, pero yung pagkatao ng isang indibidwal tulad ni President Marcos (Every time they hold a campaign rally, they always badmouth the President—not only his policy but also his character)," Adiong said in a press conference.

"Tapos wala syang ginagawa (He doesn't do anything in response) directly. He has all the powers at his disposal, and yet he is doing nothing. In fact, yung response niya (his response) is so diplomatic," he added.

The lawmaker said he does not think that that is the characteristic of a dictator.

In fact, he added, Marcos also respects the separation of powers as well as allows agencies to work according to their mandate, which he said are not an attribute or an indication of a dictator.

Meanwhile, Manila 1st district Rep. Ernix Dionisio says Marcos is "one of the kindest president" ever and is "far from being a dictator".

"Nakakalungkot kasi na tayong mga Pilipino, we are attacking yung kapwa Pilipino natin (It's saddening that we are attacking our fellow Filipinos). For what?" Dionisio asked.

He also floated the possibility that someone just wants to place Marcos in a bad light because of personal interest.

"President Marcos has done nothing but help the Filipino people and help the interest of our country," Dionisio said.