Marcos dismisses Duterte smear campaign claims as 'fake news'

SINGAPORE — President Marcos challenged Vice President Duterte to back up her claims with facts during an interview in Singapore on Sunday, characterizing her allegations as baseless.

"It is fake news. Prove it! Based on what?" Marcos said during the Kapihan interview when asked about Duterte's assertion that his administration was involved in efforts to discredit her.

The exchange marks an escalation of tensions between the two senior officials, who have been at odds in recent weeks. Duterte had previously leveled accusations that the Marcos administration was conducting a smear campaign against her, though she provided limited specifics at the time.

Marcos's dismissal of the vice president's claims underscores the ongoing friction between the two leaders, whose relationship has deteriorated since taking office. The president's call for Duterte to present substantive evidence suggests the administration views her accusations as unfounded political rhetoric rather than credible charges warranting formal response.

The dispute comes amid broader concerns about national unity and the proper functioning of government institutions, with observers noting the public nature of the disagreement between two of the country's highest-ranking officials.