President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., (M) speaks to Senate President Migz Zubiri (L) and House Speaker Martin Romualdez during the president’s first State of the Nation Address at the Batasan Complex on July 25, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
NEW DELHI, India — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday denied the arrest of his cousin, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, was a staged drama.
This comes amid criticism that the arrest of the former House Speaker for plunder was nothing but drama.
"God, you see, do you think you talk to him and see if he agrees with you? I don't think," he said.
READ: Marcos did not intervene in cousin Romualdez's arrest — Remulla
Romualdez was arrested Monday night after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for the P7.4-billion plunder case filed by the Ombudsman.
The former House Speaker has been tagged as a "big fish" in the massive flood control anomaly, and the President even spoke of Romualdez's arrest during his recent State of the Nation Address.
"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," the President said.
"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," Marcos added.
Marcos dismissed critics, saying these are just attacks.
"So they have to say that. So that's what they're saying… That's not a comment on the procedures of court. It's just another attack. We get them a lot," he said.
READ: PGH finishing medical exams on Martin Romualdez
Romualdez remains at the Philippine General Hospital for independent medical tests after being transferred from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday that the president did not intervene in Romualdez's arrest, even as he acknowledged that they were as close as brothers.
"Walang kapatid na lalaki si ating pangulo. So isa sa pinakamalapit na yan sa kanya," said Remulla. "Make no mistake about it, it really hurts him. But it is his duty."
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