Malacañang pushed back against recent remarks made by Senator Imee Marcos, who apologized to her late father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., for allegedly failing to look after her brother, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro questioned the basis and intent of the senator’s apology, particularly the implication that the President needed “watching over.”

“Ano nga ba ang totoo? Ang sabi niya ay hindi nabantayan. Sino kaya talaga ang hindi nabantayan ang magulang, at sino ba talaga ang hindi nabantayan, ang kapatid?” Castro asked.

“Ang paghingi ng patawad, iyon bang hindi pagbabantay sa kaniyang kapatid o ang paninira ng kapatid sa publiko?” she added.

Earlier, Senator Marcos expressed regret to their late father, saying she may have failed in her duty to look after her younger brother, Bongbong.

“Ang dapat ihingi ko ng tawad sa tatay ko na hindi ko nagampanan, yung utos niya, 'Bantayan mo 'yung kapatid mo.' Hindi ko nabantayan eh...Kaya Dad, sinubukan ko talaga, pinagpilitan ko. Nayayamot na nga sa akin si Bongbong. Alam ko naman.Pero hindi ko talaga kinaya,“ she said on Monday, March 30.

The Palace official underscored that President Marcos Jr. has maintained composure in public and has not engaged in behavior that would warrant concern.

“Ang Pangulo, hindi nagmumura, hindi nagme-meltdown lalo na sa publiko, at hindi nagbabanta sa buhay ninuman. Ang Pangulo, ikinasal, may pamilya, at hanggang ngayon, faithful sa asawa. Sino po kaya ang naging pasaway ang dapat na binantayan?” she said.

Castro emphasized that the President is aware of current developments but chooses not to engage in personal attacks.

“Alam po ng Pangulo ang nangyayari sa atin at sa mga pangyayari sa ating paligid. At asahan po natin ang Pangulo, hindi po siya naninira ng kanyang kapatid,” she said.