Malacañang on Sunday defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after a video circulated online showing him singing at a post-birthday celebration for First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, which drew criticism as heavy rains and severe flooding affected several parts of Luzon over the weekend.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured the public that while the President spent time with his family for the special occasion, he remained on high alert, continuously monitoring flood-hit areas and directing relief operations.
“Ang Pangulo ay pangulo saan man siya naroroon. Ang paglalaan ng ilang oras para sa kanyang pamilya ay hindi nangangahulugang tumitigil ang kanyang tungkulin o ang operasyon ng pamahalaan (A President remains President wherever he may be. Devoting time to his family does not mean that his duties or the operations of the government come to a halt),” Castro said in a statement.
“Sa gitna ng matinding pag-ulan, patuloy ang kanyang pagbabantay at pag-uutos sa mga ahensya upang matiyak ang kaligtasan at agarang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan (Amidst heavy rains, he continues to monitor the situation and issue directives to agencies to ensure the safety of our fellow citizens and the immediate provision of assistance),” she added.
The backlash stemmed from a video clip recorded during an August 26 gathering, a delayed celebration for the First Lady, whose actual birthday was on August 21, that gained traction on social media over the weekend. Critics and netizens called out the gathering, labeling it insensitive given the displacement and hardship faced by flood victims across Luzon.
In response to the public outcry, Castro reiterated that the Chief Executive is fully aware of the ongoing disaster situation and that government agencies remain actively deployed to deliver immediate aid to affected communities.