DND: ‘Fake video’ of Marcos, a maliciously crude destab attempt

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday said the “pulvoronic video” released by Duterte-linked group Maisug was an attempt to destabilize the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The obviously fake video being circulated emanating from a MAISUG gathering in Los Angeles is again a maliciously crude attempt to destabilize the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. They will not succeed!” the DND said.

The DND said it was referring to the video supposedly showing Marcos using illegal drugs.

“Even the release of the contrived video in the USA is a cowardly attempt to escape Philippine criminal jurisdiction,” it added.

The DND urged concerned United States authorities to probe and bring to justice the perpetrators behind the “disgusting act.”

In a chance interview at the Batasang Pambansa, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dismissed the video as ''malicious.'' 

''Koreano 'yun, hindi Pilipino,'' he added.

(The man in the video is a Korean, not a Filipino.)

The Presidential Communications Office has not yet issued a statement on the matter.

In a separate statement, the National Security Council (NSC) called the video “fabricated and malicious hoax” which exposes “desperation and ulterior motives” of the perpetrators.

“The video falsely linking President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to alleged illegal drug use is a fabricated and malicious hoax being peddled on the Filipino people,” it said.

“This crude attempt utilizing technology and stage management reveals the desperation and ulterior motives of those responsible,” it added.

The NSC agreed with the DND that the release of the “fake video” seeks to tarnish Marcos’ reputation and political instability, which is “deeply concerning and alarming.”

“This calculated attempt to tarnish the President's reputation and create political instability is deeply concerning and alarming,” the NSC said.

“We condemn any attempt to destabilize the administration and we will resist any and all efforts to weaken our duly- constituted democratic institutions,” it added.

‘Pathetic’

Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander ''Sandro'' Marcos, meanwhile, also dismissed the circulating video, calling it “pathetic.” 

“It’s nothing but a pathetic attempt to destabilize the administration and the President. We should really come to expect that from them at this point,” the presidential son said in an ambush interview.

Asked what he makes out of the timing of the release of the video, Sandro said, "I think it's a little obvious."

He added that the issue "is not worth dignifying."

Duterte

In a separate statement, former President Rodrigo Duterte said he had nothing to do with the video.

"It was a decision made entirely by the Maisug volunteers in the said two places without the knowledge and imprimatur of the Maisug organizing committee. The members of the Maisug leadership is just as surprised as the rest of the country when they saw it for the first time," Duterte said.

"First, the Marcos administration's feeble attempt to dismiss the video by simple denial actually reinforces the simmering suspicion of President Marcos' drug addiction. As any lawyer knows, denial is the weakest form of defense. It has to do better than that," Duterte, a lawyer, added.

The former President also said that undertaken by a credible drug testing center, a negative result would erase all doubts once and for all.

"Even the ordinary man on the street knows that the best way to put the issue to rest is for President Marcos to undergo a hair follicle drug test," Duterte said.

The refusal of President Marcos to undergo the hair follicle drug test, Duterte said, "is the best proof not only of the video's authenticity but, worse, his drug addiction."

"The denial issued by the Department of National Defense (DND) is a slap in the face of every patriotic and honorable soldier who lives by the military's highest code of conduct. It is bad enough that the DND has to do the dirty job of issuing the denial. It is worse that in doing so it has become a party to a despicable act it should have been fighting against in the first place," Duterte said. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/ Giselle Ombay/Llanesca Panti/ AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News