Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� G. Escudero 鈥擣ile photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senate President聽 Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero thumbed down on Monday former President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 accusation that President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr was veering toward dictatorship, which his father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., resorted to during his administration.
In a text message to reporters, Escudero defended the President and emphasized that he does not subscribe to Duterte鈥檚 pronouncements. He labeled this as 鈥渋rrational and untrue.鈥�
鈥淲hen their accusation that [Marcos] 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,鈥� said Escudero.
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According to Escudero, he has known the younger Marcos for over a decade now, noting that working with him closely proves that he鈥檚 different from his father.
鈥淚 can say with certainty that I do not subscribe to [former President Duterte鈥檚] statement because I simply do not see it and cannot infer nor believe it from [Marcos鈥橾 attitude, outlook, and work ethic,鈥� Escudero explained.
READ: Marcos: Rise and fall of a dictator
Prior to Escudero鈥檚 remarks, the Palace already dismissed the latest tirades hurled by Duterte against the president by calling it a 鈥渉oax emerging from a one-man fake news factory.鈥�