MALACAÑANG slammed on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the new campaign advertisement of presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos that describes the current state of the Philippines under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as “black.”
In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Senator Marcos’ “Itim” ad would best describe the Philippines’ condition during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“You said recent? Ang akala namin 2022 campaign ads ito dahil sa mas na-describe ang kapanahunan noong nakaraang administrasyon dun sa nasabing campaign ads,” she said.
(You said ‘recent’? We thought these were 2022 campaign ads because they described the previous administration’s era more than the current one.)
“Pag sinabi natin na itim ngayon ang kulay mas madi-describe siguro natin noong nakaraang administrasyon na sobrang itim at ngayon ay papaliwanag sa panahon ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, hindi man ganun pa kaputi pero patungo na doon,” she added.
(When we say the color is black now, it might actually describe the previous administration better -- very dark. As for the current administration, things are beginning to lighten up. It may not be pure white yet, but it's heading in that direction.)
In the 31-second video campaign advertisement released on Facebook, Marcos was backed by Vice President Sara Duterte, who said that the current state of the country is black as it is mourning due to hunger and criminality.
“Gutom na ang sikmura, gutom pa sa hustisya. Ginigipit ang hindi kaalyansa,” Senator Marcos added.
(Hungry stomachs and still starving for justice. Those who aren’t allies are being oppressed.)
At the end of the video, Duterte endorsed Senator Marcos, who is running for re-election in the 2025 national and local polls.
Castro maintained that the country’s hunger and criminality rating is currently lower as compared to that during the former administration.
She said injustice was also more prevalent during former President Duterte’s time as president, noting statements of bereaved families of the drug war victims.
“Hindi po nais ng ating pangulo ng mga ganitong klaseng negatibong pangangampanya lalo na kung ito ay fake news. Noon pa naman sinabi na ng ating Pangulo na labanan natin ang mga fake news. Mas hindi maganda kung ito ay gagawing naratibo sa isang pangangampanya,” said Castro.
(The President does not support this kind of negative campaigning, especially when it involves fake news. He has long called on everyone to fight against fake news. It’s even more concerning if such misinformation is used as a campaign narrative.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)