President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R. Marcos Jr. (left) and former President Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 recent accusation that the Marcos family is stealing and selling the country鈥檚 gold reserves were dismissed as mere campaign jokes but will still be taken seriously.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, also designated as Palace press officer, said this when asked for a comment on Monday regarding the matter.
鈥淗indi ba ito campaign joke ulit ni dating Pangulong Duterte? Hindi pa ba tayo nasanay doon sa jet ski promise niya? Na noong naniwala tayo halos sa mga sumuporta sa kaniya ay tinawag tayong 鈥榮tupid.鈥� So, kapag naniwala ba tayo ulit sa sinasabi niyang ito eh baka mapagkamalan niya tayo ulit at tawagin tayong stupid,鈥� she said in a Palace briefing.
(Isn鈥檛 this just another campaign joke from former President Duterte? Haven鈥檛 we gotten used to his jet ski promise? Back then, when we believed him, he called those who supported him 鈥榮tupid.鈥� So if we believe what he was saying again, might he mistake us for fools once more and call us stupid again?)
Duterte made the accusations during the Cebu People鈥檚 Indignation Rally last Saturday in Mandaue City.
鈥淎ng unang gikawat ni Marcos, ang atong gold reserves. Sigehan nana鈥檊 baligya ang atong gold hangtod karon, gamay nalang kaayo. So unsaon nalang pagtindog ang ekonomiya pag-abot sa panahon?鈥�, the former president said.
(The first thing Marcos stole was our gold reserves. They have been selling our gold until now, and there鈥檚 very little left. So how will the economy stand in the future?)
Taken seriously
鈥淏ut anyway, we will take this seriously para naman hindi magkaroon ng fake news lalo na doon sa mga taong nakikinig sa kaniya at maaaring naniniwala pa,鈥� Castro said.
(But anyway, we will take this seriously to prevent the spread of fake news, especially for those who listen to him and might still believe in what he says.)
Asked how Duterte鈥檚 remarks will be taken 鈥渟eriously,鈥� Castro said, 鈥淪asagutin lang namin iyong mga joke na lagi niyang sinasabi (We will simply respond to the jokes he keeps making.)鈥�
鈥淪ince tayo ay sumasagot dito nang seryoso, baka sa susunod sasabihin na naman ng mga supporters niya, 鈥楬indi ninyo na naman kilala si dating Pangulong Duterte, puro joke iyan.鈥� So, ito bang mga sinasabi niya during sa kanilang rallies or campaign rallies, joke ba or seryoso? We have to know that,鈥� she also said.
(Since we are taking this seriously, his supporters might say again, 鈥榶ou don鈥檛 really know former President Duterte, it鈥檚 all just a joke.鈥� So, are the things he says during their rallies or campaign events jokes, or is he serious? We need to know that.)
BSP: For forex requirements only
In a separate statement released the same day, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) noted that they have the sole management power over the country鈥檚 gross international reserves (GIR), including gold.
鈥淭he country鈥檚 GIR is not used for any other purpose other than meeting the country鈥檚 forex requirements,鈥� the BSP statement read.
鈥淲hen the BSP sells gold, the proceeds revert to and stay within the GIR. Last year, the GIR rose to USD 106.3 billion from USD 103.8 billion in 2023,鈥� it added.