A Malacañang official emphasized that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is demonstrating strong leadership, responding to past criticisms labeling him as weak.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro addressed Marcos’ campaign strategies for the administration’s senatorial slate in Eleksyon 2025. She noted that while candidates outline their platforms, Marcos also takes the opportunity to express his views.
“Sometimes, the President must be transparent with his feelings to assure the public that he is not, and will never be, a weak leader,” Castro said.
The statement comes in the wake of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2021 remark calling Marcos a “weak leader.”
At a recent rally, Marcos distanced his senatorial bets from controversies involving the previous administration, including the war on drugs, pandemic-related corruption, and China’s influence in the West Philippine Sea. While he did not name names, some former officials face charges related to pandemic supply deals, and the International Criminal Court is investigating drug war-related killings.
Meanwhile, in a Pasay City rally, Marcos assured the public that his team refrains from threats and foul language. His remarks followed Duterte’s controversial comments about eliminating senators, which his allies later dismissed as a “joke.”
With election season heating up, Marcos appears determined to prove his leadership strength amid ongoing political tensions.