Marcos has no plans to resign, Palace says

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President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has no plans to resign from office, Malacañang said on Friday following remarks from Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp that she is prepared to take over.

“Unang-una, walang magre-resign,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(First of all, no one will resign.)

“Wish lang nila 'yun dahil ang Pangulo tumutupad sa kanyang tungkulin at nagtatrabaho para sa bayan, sa bansa, at sa taumbayan. So kung wish nila na magre-resign ang Pangulo, I'm sorry,” she added.

(They just wish because the President is fulfilling his duties and working for the country and the people. So if they wish that the President would resign, I'm sorry.)

Castro also responded to claims from Duterte’s camp that senators, police officials, and other government personalities are being controlled by Malacañang in connection with the Vice President’s impeachment case.

She said government agencies are simply carrying out their respective mandates and that Duterte should address the issues and complaints raised against her rather than accuse the government of persecution.

Castro criticized Duterte’s camp for questioning the administration while, according to Castro, they are failing to explain issues in her impeachment case including the use of confidential funds, as well as the grave threat case involving an alleged plot to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Zaldy Co, Roque, Legarda

Meanwhile, Castro was also asked about possible legal actions or operations involving former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, and Senator Loren Legarda.

She declined to provide details on any operations.

“Hindi ko na po ito mai-re-reveal on air,” Castro said.

(I can’t re-reveal it on air.)

“Sa ngayon hindi ko masasabi kung ano yung mga legal na operasyon nila. Sabi nga natin ay hindi natin puwede maisiwalat kung ano-ano ang dapat na gawin, mga legal na operasyon, at baka hindi matupad o hindi maisagawa dahil nalaman na po noong dapat na makuha, mahuli, mapadala sa Pilipinas. So, hayaan na lang po natin si Secretary Jonvic dyan,” she added.

(Right now I can’t say what their legal operations are. As I have said, we can’t reveal what needs to be done, the legal operations, and it might not be done or not be carried out because it was already revealed when they were supposed to be captured, caught, or sent to the Philippines. So, let’s just leave it to Secretary Jonvic.)

In May 2025, warrants of arrest were issued against Roque, Cassandra Ong, and 48 others for qualified human trafficking in relation with the alleged scam hub run by Lucky South 99.

He has denied his role in the operations but has acknowledged providing legal counsel to Whirlwind Corporation, the owner of the land on which stood a raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga where criminal activities such as torture and scams apparently took place.

Roque has sought asylum from the Netherlands but his case has been referred to Austrian authorities since they were the ones to issue him a visa.

Arrest warrants were issued against Co and 17 others over supposed anomalous flood control projects in November 2025.

The Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. These charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co has denied the allegations.

In August this year, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Legarda and her son Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste to answer the plunder and graft complaints against them over the alleged failure of Leviste’s firm to provide solar power as provided under its congressional franchise.

Legarda's camp called the probe “lawfare” and “political persecution.”

Legarda and Leviste left the Philippines on separate flights on August 2, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Legarda flew to France while Leviste to Hong Kong. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News