Marcos ungrateful to Duterte: Palace says ‘utang na loob’ should not interfere with the law

Metro Manila, Philippines – Debt of gratitude should not interfere with upholding the law, Malacañang said in response to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "ungrateful."

The younger Duterte reminded Marcos that his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, allowed the transfer of the remains of late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, the current president’s father, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani from Ilocos Norte.

Duterte is facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

In response, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos had expressed his gratitude to Duterte back in 2016.

“Noon pa po sila nagpasalamat at sinabi nga nila na forever silang tatanaw ng utang na loob sa napakagandang gesture ng dating Pangulong Duterte,” said Castro.

[Translation: They had already expressed their gratitude long ago and even said they would forever be indebted to former President Duterte for his kind gesture]

“Pero ang pagtanaw po ng utang na loob ay hindi dapat madiskaril at hindi dapat mag-traydor sa batas at sa hustisya,” she added.

[Translation: But showing gratitude should not derail or betray the law and justice.]

Castro said the burial was done in line with Republic Act 289, which allows former presidents to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The Palace official noted that Duterte’s arrest was legal.

“Ang pagpapaaresto naman po o pagsu-surrender kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC ay mayroon din pong kaugnayan na batas at mayroon po tayong sinusunod na commitment para sa Interpol,” she said.

[Translation: The arrest or surrender of former President Duterte to the ICC is also governed by law, and we have commitments to Interpol that we must follow]

“Ngayon, hindi po dapat mahinto ng utang na loob ang pagpapatupad ng batas, hindi po dapat traydurin, katulad ng aking sinabi, ang pagpapatupad ng batas ang pagpapatupad ng commitment with the Interpol,” she added.

[Translation: Now, gratitude should not hinder the enforcement of the law. As I said, enforcing the law and honoring our commitments with Interpol should not be betrayed.]