Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rejected claims of a supposed term-sharing agreement between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the chief executive remains committed to completing his six-year mandate.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the president never entered into any agreement to step down before the end of his term.
“Ang pangulo po, hindi po iyan mangangampanya para lang po ibigay ang posisyon kahit kanino,” Castro said.
[Translation: The president does not campaign just to hand over the position to anyone.]
She said Marcos was elected to serve the public and intends to fulfill that commitment.
“Nangako po siya na maglilingkod sa taumbayan at tatapusin ang kaniyang termino para sa bayan,” she added.
[Translation: He promised to serve the people and complete his term for the country.]
Castro also said such allegations have no basis.
“Siya po ay nagulat dahil hindi po ganoon ang pangulo,” she said.
[Translation: He was surprised because that is not how the president is.]
Self-confessed Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga said during a House impeachment hearing that there was an agreement between the Marcos and Duterte camps for the president to step down by 2025 to allow Duterte to assume office.
He added that “extraordinary measures” were discussed if the supposed deal was not honored, including destabilization efforts and other actions to remove the president.
