President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected allegations that the recent arrest of his cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, was staged or involved special treatment, labeling the accusations as purely political maneuvers.
Speaking to reporters in India on Sunday, September 13, Marcos stated that criticism surrounding the arrest is designed to undermine both him and his administration rather than offer genuine legal analysis.
”So they have to say that. So that’s what they’re saying. They’re not commenting about. That’s not a comment on the procedures of court. It’s just another attack. We get them a lot,” Marcos said.
The President maintained that opponents are using the situation to belittle those involved rather than focusing on the actual judicial process.
”Do you think you talk to him and see if he agrees with you? I don’t think. Of course, but this is political, right? It’s not really a comment on what’s happening. It’s not really a belief that it is, in fact, drama,” Marcos added.
”It’s kind of may masabi, kailangan may masabi para insultuhin ka o to put you down, or sabihin mali yung ginagawa mo. Basta ang sasabihin basically pinapatunay nila na wala kang kwentang tao,” he said.
Romualdez was taken into custody on Monday, September 7, inside his room at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
The lawmaker faces a ₱7.4-billion plunder complaint connected to alleged flood-control project irregularities.