GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
In the words of President Marcos
One would often look back on the milestones of a sitting President of the Philippine Republic based on the number of laws enacted or executive orders he made for the entire year. However, sometimes, these can be measured by his own words.
Here is a list of the remarkable statements made by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. this 2024. Some were controversial while others have reflected the policy he is pushing for in his administration.
“I think it's the fentanyl.”
This was Marcos’ response to the accusation of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, that he was a drug addict. Before departing for Vietnam for a state visit in January, Marcos told reporters that Duterte's allegations could be side effects of him taking fentanyl (a potent synthetic opioid drug) for a long time.
Marcos even said Duterte's physicians should take care of him given the drug that he was taking was ''highly addictive.'' Pressed if he has been involved in illegal drugs, Marcos said he would not even dignify the question.
“I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty.”
On January 23, Marcos reiterated that he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the Philippines. The Chief Executive said the Philippine government would not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC will conduct in the country.
The ICC has been conducting a probe into the alleged abuses committed under the Duterte administration's bloody campaign against illegal drugs, which is believed to have killed tens of thousands of individuals, according to human rights groups.
“Filipinos do not yield.”
The President underscored that Filipinos would not yield to China's illegal, coercive, and dangerous attacks. Marcos said the Philippines would not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience amid China's continued hostilities in the South China Sea.
This statement was made in light of the March 23 action by China Coast Guard against a Philippine vessel which was en route to Ayungin Shoal for another resupply mission.
''This is not recognized by any country, any international body, certainly not by the Philippines.''
During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin in March, Marcos indicated that the Philippines continues to question China's historical claims in the South China Sea.
According to the Philippine President, the government nor any other country does not accept China's so-called Ten-Dash Line, which is the latter's publication of a new map that places nearly the entire South China Sea within its national boundaries.
“I think [it is] very very close to what we define as an act of war.”
For Marcos, the death of a Filipino citizen in the West Philippine Sea could be deemed as an act of war. This was in relation to the water cannon attacks of China Coast Guard in the resource-rich territory.
In May, Marcos vowed that his administration would respond accordingly over such provocations, noting that this will certainly ''cross the Rubicon,', a reference to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River that signifies an irreversible course of action with serious consequences.
He made the remark during the question and answer portion of the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore wherein he delivered a keynote address.
Marcos announced the ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country during his third State of the Nation Address last July. The reason behind his decision was that the POGOs had ventured into illicit areas such as scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
Months later, an Executive Order placed a seal on Marcos' directive against POGO operations.
“That would be a bit of an understatement.”
Amid China's continuous atrocities in the West Philippine Sea, ignoring a ruling that invalidated its claim in the region, Marcos said he feels more than just frustration with the Asian superpower.
During the 2024 ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in October, reporters asked Marcos if he feels frustrated that Beijing says one thing in conferences but does another in the South China Sea.
Marcos said that would be a bit of an understatement as there is potential danger with China's aggressive actions.
“Perhaps I was deceived.”
Running mates in the 2022 national elections, it was only two years later when Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte's relations turned sour.
To recall, Duterte said she was never friends with Marcos, a statement that dismayed the Chief Executive. Before the Philippine media delegation in Laos in October, Marcos said he was deceived by the Vice President.
“'Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. 'Yan ay aking papalagan.”
On November 25, Marcos vowed to block "criminal attempts" following Duterte's threat that she would have him, First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself were assassinated.
Duterte's incendiary remarks came amid a House panel investigation into the alleged questionable budget of her office and the Department of Education when it was under her leadership.
Marcos said he found Duterte's statements "alarming.''
“Never say never.”
Marcos is not closing his doors to a possible reconciliation with Duterte, his running mate in Eleksyon 2022, despite her recent tirades against him.
This was his brief response last November 29 when asked to comment on Duterte's statement that her feud with the President has reached a "point of no return."
Their relationship turned sour as the years went by, with Duterte resigning from DepEd earlier this year and becoming a critic of the administration.
—RF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
