Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday dismissed as 'lies' the claim of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to reconcile with Vice President Sara Duterte. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro rejected Roque's assertion that a 'confidential source' told him the President wanted to mend ties with Duterte.

According to Philippines News Agency, Roque earlier claimed in a Facebook video that Marcos was seeking to reconcile with Duterte, but that the Vice President was no longer interested. Castro criticized the Vice President for allegedly believing Roque's 'salon gossip' and accused the former Palace mouthpiece of being a source of 'fake news.'

'Sa sagot na ito ng Bise Presidente na ayaw daw niyang makipag-ayos ay kitang-kita ang tunay niyang kulay (In the Vice President's response that she does not want to reconcile, her true colors are clearly seen),' Castro said. She added the President remains focused on governance.

'Ang Pangulo ay busy sa pagserbisyo sa bayan, hindi tulad ng iba na nangangampanya na ngayon pa lang (The President is busy serving the people, unlike others who are already campaigning this early),' Castro said. Marcos and Duterte ran as a tandem in the 2022 national elections under the 'UniTeam' banner and won by a landslide. However, political tensions between the two camps surfaced in the succeeding years, marked by policy differences and public exchanges.