Former President Rodrigo Duterte meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 30, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA (UPDATED) — Newly installed Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro slammed Monday former President Rodrigo Duterte for claiming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "veering towards dictatorship."

At an indignation rally in Cebu, Duterte claimed that Marcos might declare martial law like his father to guarantee that he would stay in office beyond his term.

Castro however accused Duterte of sowing intrigue, adding that the public should not believe claims that are not backed by any evidence.

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“Anong ebidensya, paano mapapatunayan? Katulad ng sinabi ko, hindi tayo pwedeng maniwala sa mga pag-iintriga lamang na walang ebidensya,” Castro said in an interview with Malacañang reporters.

“At ito naman, siguro naman ay natatandaan ninyo, noong panahon ni Pangulong Duterte, inamin nya, fiscal pa lang s'ya, expert na sya sa pag-intriga at pagplanta ng ebidensya. Siguro naman napatunayan na natin yan sa panahon ni Senator Leila de Lima. So ano pa ba ang ating ieexpect kay dating Pangulong Duterte? Gumawa ng intriga, magplanta ng ebidensya.”

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Sunday earlier dismissed the former President’s statements as “another budol (tall tale) emerging from a one-man fake-news factory.”

“We will not backslide into the oppressive ways of the previous administration, when critics were jailed upon trumped-up charges and when kill orders were publicly issued with glee and obeyed blindly,” Bersamin said.

“It is the leader of that troubled past who is depicting us as veering toward a system where anyone can be deprived of life, liberty, and property without due process of law, as many had been on his mere say-so as a tyrant who did not respect the rights of the people.”

ESCUDERO ALSO REJECTS DUTERTE'S CLAIM

Senate President Francis Escudero also disputed Duterte's claim that Marcos is heading toward dictatorship like his father and namesake.

"I do not agree and do not subscribe to his accusation at all," Escudero said in a text message. "When their accusation that PBBM was a weak leader who was not in control did not fly, now they are accusing him of the exact opposite and now supposedly has dictatorial tendencies. It is not only inconsistent but also irrational and untrue."

Escudero maintained he has known the President for over a decade and that he has been working closely with him for nearly a year now.

"I can say with certainty that I do not subscribe to FPRRD’s statement because I simply do not see it and cannot infer nor believe it from PBBM’s attitude, outlook and work ethic," the Senate chief said.

‘FATHER FAKER’

House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega has tagged former President Rodrigo Duterte a “father faker” after he accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of “veering towards a dictatorship” in a rally in Cebu last week.

Bersamin on Sunday called Duterte a “one-man fake news factory” over his allegation.

Ortega also described as “mother faker” and “fakerists” those who are making false claims against the administration.

“I’m leaning towards that statement na parang factory sila ng fake news, pati ‘yung mga data nila, pati ‘yung mga rally nila para talagang… literally factory ng fake news. Tapos ‘pag hinold sila accountable ng tao, kakambyo naman sila na joke lang daw ‘yun. Parang nagmumukha tuloy silang joke eh,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

“Father faker, mother faker o anong tawag sa mga anak nila? Fakerist. Parang ganoon ‘yung mga dating nila, parang mga super villains. Ewan ko ba. Ano ang nakukuha nila sa pag-ano, pag imbento ng fake news at saka paninira,” Ortega added.

“Faker, hater, parang ganun ‘yung mga dating nila. Bad vibes, ‘di ba?”” he noted.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong also defended the President from Duterte’s claim. He took a swipe at the Dutertes, pointing out contrasts between them and Marcos Jr.

“Wala akong nakikitang indikasyon or characteristic ang Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos na masasabi kong leaning towards dictatorship. Diktador ba ‘yung minumura ka, ang tatay mo sinasabi… i-e-exhume, tapos itatapon sa West Philippine Sea, ite-threaten ang buhay mo, ite-threaten ang wife mo, ite-threaten ang Speaker of the House, ang pinsan mo… tapos wala siyang ginagawa directly. He has all power at his disposal and yet he is doing nothing. In fact, ang mga response niya is so diplomatic. Characteristic ba ‘yun ng isang diktador? I don’t think so. Pangalawa, itong ginagawa ng administrasyong ito, he respects the separation of powers,” Adiong said, referring to the previous statements issued by Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Wala naman sa administrasyon niya na may nakaupong Chief Justice na na-quo warrannto… wala sa administrasyon niya na may seating senador na kinasuhan at ipinakulong… Hindi nga ho siya vindictive… Kung sa ibang leader po ‘yun mumurahin ka… wala ho siyang sinabi na, in a way na insultuhin niya ‘yung nagsasabi or ‘yung nagte-threaten sa kanya… That is why I don't see any iota of him becoming a dictator. It's actually the opposite,” he added.

During the Duterte administration, the Supreme Court invalidated the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice, granting the quo warranto petition filed by then Solicitor General Jose Calida.

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