Palace says Marcos showing he's not a weak leader

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. should be transparent and show to the public that he is not a weak leader, a Palace official said on Thursday.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked about Marcos' way of campaigning for the administration's senatorial slate for Eleksyon 2025. To recall, Marcos has been throwing tirades in speeches during campaign sorties.

''Sa lahat po ng campaign rallies napuntahan po ng Pangulo, ang mga kandidato niya po mismo, ang kanyang mga sinusuportahang kandidato ang nagsasabi kung ano ang kanilang magiging program, ang kanilang magiging proyekto para sa ikauunlad ng bayan at sa ikauunlad ng taumbayan,'' Castro said.

(In all the campaign rallies attended by the President, his candidates were the ones telling about their programs that can help improve the country.)

''Siguro po, kailangan lang po talaga paminsan-minsan ang ating Pangulo ay maging transparent din siya sa kanyang na saloobin at para po maipahatid din sa mga tao na he is not and will never be a weak leader,'' she added.

(Sometimes, the President should become transparent with his feelings and tell the nation that he is not and will never be a weak leader.)

To recall, former President Rodrigo Duterte branded Marcos in November 2021 as "a weak leader" as he ruled out a coalition with his daughter Sara Duterte's Lakas-CMD.

During the kickoff rally of the senatorial bets of Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Marcos said none of them were involved in killings during the war on drugs, corruption during the pandemic, and supporting China in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos did not identify names but the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of charges against some officials in connection with the government's purchase of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Some Duterte administration officials are also under investigation by the International Criminal Court in connection with the killings blamed on his war on drugs.

The Philippines during the Duterte administration pivoted to China and strengthened its friendship with the Beijing government

Meanwhile, in a rally in Pasay City, Marcos said the public cannot hear any threats or foul words from them. He also opened his remarks by saying he was checking if his candidates were safe from a grenade blast.

The former president raised the idea of killing senators so that his party's candidates would all be elected into the Senate. He also adverted to doing so with an explosion. Duterter's allies, however, have dismissed it as a "joke." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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