Manila: Malaca±ang on Thursday defended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s more combative tone in his speeches during the campaign sorties of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition. Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos' statements were in line with historical records and past events, asserting that they were based on facts.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized that the President's remarks were consistent with documented events. 'Tandaan natin kung mapapansin ninyo at kung matatandaan ninyo, ang mga nabanggit ng Pangulo ay naaayon naman sa records, naaayon naman sa pangyayari (If you notice and if you remember, what the President mentioned are recorded and in line with past events),' Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

She further elaborated that while other political parties or individuals are entitled to express their views, the President also has the right to share his perspectives. 'Hindi lamang po kasi dapat ang ibang partido o ibang tao ang maaaring magsalita patungkol dito. Karapatan din po ng Pangulo na magsalita kung ano po iyong kaniyang damdamin (Not only because other parties or other people should be able to speak. It is also the President's right to speak what he feels)," she stated.

Addressing concerns over Marcos' more direct and combative rhetoric, Castro explained that the President must demonstrate resilience and convey to the public that he is not a weak leader. 'Siguro po, kailangan lang po talaga paminsan-minsan ang ating Pangulo ay maging transparent din siya sa kanyang na saloobin at para po maipahatid din sa mga tao na he is not will never a weak leader (Maybe, our President just needs to be transparent in his feelings from time to time and to convey to the people that he is not will never be a weak leader),' she added.

Marcos' recent campaign speeches have marked a departure from his usual diplomatic approach, featuring harsh criticisms. While he has refrained from naming specific individuals, the President has alluded to candidates from other parties being implicated in drug war killings, corruption during the pandemic, and supporting China in the West Philippine Sea dispute.