President Marcos is not a dictator – Escudero

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero —File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President  Francis “Chiz” Escudero thumbed down on Monday former President Rodrigo Duterte’s accusation that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” 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’s pronouncements. He labeled this as “irrational and untrue.”

“When 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,” said Escudero.

READ: Digong accuses Marcos of ‘veering towards dictatorship’

According to Escudero, he has known the younger Marcos for over a decade now, noting that working with him closely proves that he’s different from his father.

“I can say with certainty that I do not subscribe to [former President Duterte’s] statement because I simply do not see it and cannot infer nor believe it from [Marcos’] attitude, outlook, and work ethic,” Escudero explained.

READ: Marcos: Rise and fall of a dictator

Prior to Escudero’s remarks, the Palace already dismissed the latest tirades hurled by Duterte against the president by calling it a “hoax emerging from a one-man fake news factory.”