Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said that “political noise” and the spread of false information are hurting the economy, slamming administration critics of deliberately seeking to weaken President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said political instability is adding to economic pressures caused by the Middle East crisis and natural disasters.
“Ang political noise na nagsasabi na bumaba ang Pangulo bilang pangulo, mga destabilizers, obstructionists. Ang political noise na ito ay nakakaapekto sa ekonomiya,” Castro said on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
[Translation: The political noise calling for the President to step down, the destabilizers, the obstructionists. This political noise affects the economy.]
She called out critics for supposedly spreading false information to damage the administration and push Marcos out of office.
“Iyan ang kanilang intensiyon, magsinungaling, gumawa ng fake news, manira ng administrasyon, at pababain ang Pangulo sa puwesto upang maapektuhan ang ating ekonomiya,” Castro said.
[Translation: That is their intention, to lie, create fake news, attack the administration and bring down the President so that our economy will be affected.]
“Isa sila sa dahilan kung bakit ang ekonomiya natin ay hindi nagiging maganda,” she added.
[Translation: They are among the reasons why our economy is not doing well.]
Castro made the remarks as she responded to Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo, who questioned the administration over the state of the economy and accused it of political persecution and consolidation.
Earlier in the briefing, Castro also cited “political noise” as one of several factors affecting the economy after inflation accelerated to 7.2 percent.
“Hindi po natin maide-deny na talagang apektado po ang bansa natin dahil sa nangyayaring krisis sa Middle East. At iyong mga papasok at mga naganap na mga kalamidad sa Pilipinas, pati ang political noise ay nakakaapekto na rin sa atin, sa ekonomiya natin,” she said.
[Translation: We cannot deny that our country is being affected by the crisis in the Middle East. The disasters that have occurred and those that may come, as well as political noise, are also affecting us and our economy.]
Castro said Marcos met with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to discuss inflation and additional measures to ease the impact of rising prices.
