The Palace on Monday came to House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos’ defense, asserting that the lawmaker would not make false claims.

When asked about Rep. Marcos’ claim that the Dutertes had demanded political concessions, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s response was brief.

“He has raised his kids well, and his son, Cong. Sandro, will not lie,” she relayed.

In an interview, the younger Marcos claimed that he had foreseen the falling-out of the “UniTeam” tandem after discerning a “power struggle” between his father and Vice President Sara Duterte.

To this, the Palace responded that it believes the power struggle Rep. Marcos witnessed may have stemmed from President Marcos’ refusal to grant a number of Vice President Duterte’s demands, deeming them detrimental to the Filipino people’s interests.

“Sa ating palagay, nakita mismo ni Congressman Sandro Marcos ang sitwasyon, kung bakit niya ‘yan nasabi. At makikita rin naman, kung inyong iko-connect sa lahat ng mga sinabi ng Bise Presidente. Nakikita niyo kung ano ba ‘yung mga demands na maaaring hindi napagbigyan ng Pangulo dahil ito makakaganda sa, first, pondo ng bayan, interes ng bayan, kaya hindi napagbigyan siguro,” Castro said.

In the aforementioned media interview, Rep. Marcos revealed that an official under the Duterte administration agreed to support his father’s presidential bid back in 2022 on the condition that this unnamed official would select the next Executive secretary, House speaker, and several other high-ranking officials.