Marcos calls Sara Duterte's claim of plan for no-elections 'fake news'

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. branded as fake news Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that the administration was desperate to prevent the 2028 elections from happening.

Duterte, over the weekend, made the remark as she denied the allegations made by dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered bags of cash to her.

“Ang sabi po niya, ‘yan po ay nonsense, fake news, may hilig magsinungaling, mga buwaon. Sinungaling,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Monday, relaying the President’s response to Duterte’s statement.

(The President said that it is nonsense, fake news, someone who likes to lie, a liar. She is a liar.)

In Bea Pinlac’s 24 Oras report, Castro delivered the statement after reportedly receiving a phone call from Marcos, who relayed his response over the line.

Earlier, Marcos simply laughed off the matter when asked about Duterte’s allegations during an ambush interview.

In a statement on Saturday denying allegations that she accepted suitcases of cash from Gracioso, the Vice President accused the administration of being "desperate" and "increasingly diabolical" in its efforts to bring her down and derail the 2028 elections.

"This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case. The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical," Duterte said in a statement in response to Gracioso’s allegations.

Gracioso surfaced last week and claimed that he delivered money to the Vice President, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte on the orders of former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Castro had previously called out Sara Duterte, telling her to address the accusations against her with evidence rather than relying on logical fallacies to defend herself.

“Alamin niya ang definition ng red herring at ad hominem fallacies para malaman niya ang kamalian niya sa pakikipag-argumento,” Castro said.

(May she learn the definition of red herring and ad hominem fallacies so she can understand the flaws in her arguments.)

The National Bureau of Investigation said it has begun its probe into Gracioso's claims. –Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News