Atty. Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Screengrab from PTV (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of presidential aspirant and former dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday told critics not to drag other “respectable” institutions in their bid to smear the name of Marcos.
The camp was responding to individuals and social media posts questioning the authenticity of Marcos’s cocaine drug test results, which were submitted to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police on Tuesday.
Marcos’s chief-of-staff and spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez said the camp is brushing aside the comments, adding that critics should address their questions to the institutions that conducted the drug test.
“Hindi namin papansinin ang mga tao o grupo na likas ang pagkakaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa buhay. Walang sasapat na paliwanag sa mga ayaw mapaliwanagan at hindi namin kayang ipaunawa sa mga sadyang ayaw umunawa,” he said in a text message to reporters.
(We will not give attention to individuals or groups who have a natural negative point of view. No explanation will ever suffice to people who don’t want to believe.)
“The result of Bongbong Marcos drug tests will stand on its own and if anyone who has any question as to the authenticity, methodology or process done, they should address it to the institutions where the examination was conducted,” he added.
Rodriguez said that while Marcos and his camp are used to criticisms against the presidential aspirant, critics should not involve other institutions in their attempt to smear the scion of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Nakikiusap ako sa mga kritiko, tanggap namin at higit pang titiisin and inyong patuloy na pang-aapi kay Bongbong Marcos, subalit huwag naman ninyong idamay at sirain ang mga respetadong institusyon kagaya ng Comelec, PNP Crime Laboratory at St.Luke’s Medical Center BGC dahil lamang mayroong poot sa inyong mga puso,” he said.
(I am appealing to critics, while we accept and will continue shoulder the brunt of your criticisms against Bongbong Marcos, please don’t involve and ruin other institutions likes the Comelec, PNP Crime Laboratory and St. Luke’s Medical Center BGC just because you have hatred in your hearts.)
“Wala po silang kinalaman sa politika, huwag natin silang sirain bagkus atin silang respetuhin,” he continued.
(They don’t have anything to do with politics so do not ruin them but respect them.)
The Marcos camp on Tuesday submitted the drug test results of the former senator to the PDEA, NBI and PNP, which they said were taken on Nov. 22.
Marcos, who said he tested negative for cocaine, said he had the drug test done after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed there is a presidential aspirant who is doing cocaine, even though Marcos felt he was not the one being alluded to by the chief executive.