Marcos Jr., Sotto deny secret meetings

Presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured on Tuesday that his tandem with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte remains "strong and unsoiled" amid reports of purported meetings with vice presidential aspirant and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Marcos, standard bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, warned the public against misinformation allegedly being peddled by their political opponents.

According to Marcos, some are trying to damage his relations with Duterte.

"With absolute certainty, the bind that keeps the mutual trust and respect between myself and Mayor Inday Sara remains unsoiled. And it will remain so,” Marcos said in a press statement.

“Our commitment to each other and the entire UniTeam is unconditional and stronger than ever. It is unbreakable,” Marcos added.

Marcos said there is fake news spreading saying that his camp was allegedly having secret meetings with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is the running mate of presidential aspirant Panfilo Lacson.

He said there was also information spreading that his wife, Liza, is supporting the vice presidential bid of Sotto.

Asked to comment, Sotto said, "I have no idea of what they’re talking about. I am Senate President. Involving me in fake news does not befit my position. It's best if they leave me out of those types of controversies."

"The last time I talked to Sen. Marcos was way before we filed our COCs (certificate of candidacy)," he added.

Sotto is running with presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Marcos described "fake news purveyors" as "desperate," adding that they were now resorting to disinformation and underhanded tactics “to sow discord among BBM-Sara alliances and break up his partnership with Mayor Sara.”

Marcos urged his supporters to be vigilant against misinformation and "discredit them as they’re but figments of the imagination of those who have lost hope in a fair and honest election."

"And while I believe that attempts to put a wedge between my unconditional partnership with Mayor Sara will persist as the election gets closer, I am also calling on all our supporters to be vigilant in guarding the hard-earned trust and harmony among us,” Marcos said.

"Desperate politicians are on the move to sow discord among members of the BBM-Sara alliances with clear intent to weaken, if not break, my partnership with Mayor Sara,” he said.

“With the faith and loyalty of our supporters to the UniTeam and their dedication to its goal, I am certain that we shall survive these fake news and other distasteful political challenges to enable us to collectively push our firm resolve to unify the country and give our fellowmen the future that they deserve,” he added.—With Hana Bordey/LDF/NB, GMA News