President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he should not be blamed for the current political tensions in the country, maintaining that he has neither attacked political opponents nor initiated conflict.
Speaking during a press conference in Tokyo following his state visit to Japan on May 29, Marcos said those responsible for escalating political disputes are the only ones capable of reducing them.
“The only persons who can turn down the political heat are the people who turn up the political heat in the first place,” he said.
The President stressed that he has remained focused on governance rather than political confrontation.
“I have never turned up the political heat. I have never attacked anyone. I have never put down anyone. I have never declared war on any political group whatsoever,” Marcos said.
He added that his priority has always been carrying out his duties as President, while blaming individuals making what he described as baseless accusations for intensifying political divisions.
“All I do is work,” he said.
Marcos argued that those fueling political conflict are motivated by personal interests rather than public service.
“It is the people who have indulged themselves in politics for their own benefit, not for the benefit of the people, not for the benefit of the system, not for the benefit of anybody but themselves,” he said.
Without identifying specific individuals, the President said those responsible for creating political discord are the only ones who can bring it to an end.
“Hindi galing sa amin ang gulo na ‘yan (That trouble did not come from us),” he said.
Marcos declined to name those he was referring to, saying only that there are many of them.
He described politics as inherently adversarial but noted that politicians differ in how they choose to engage in the political process.
According to the President, there are two kinds of politicians: those who contribute positively and those who focus on obstruction.
He claimed that some political figures consistently oppose the administration and create unnecessary difficulties.
“Those are the obstructionists. And they are not working for the Filipino people. They are working for themselves,” Marcos said.
“If you are desirous of lowering the political temperature, you have to look at who raised the political temperature in the first place. They are the ones who can lower the political temperature,” he added.