Marcos on critics calling Romualdez arrest 'drama': 'Ask him if it's drama'

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decried critics' statements calling the arrest and subsequent issues, particularly on the health of former Speaker Martin Romualdez, as mere drama. "See if you talk to him, see if he agrees with you," Marcos told reporters. Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos, was arrested on September 7 over plunder charges in connection with flood control projects while he was confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. On Friday, Vice President Sara Duterte called the arrest of former Speaker Martin Romualdez "drama" in reaction to a statement of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Remulla earlier said that her camp wanted her detained and handcuffed for dramatic purposes after a Quezon City court ordered her arrest for grave threats. Asked for comment about Remulla's remarks, Duterte said it was the Interior Secretary who wanted drama. “Siya yung may gusto ng drama at saka ang totoong drama kung makikita ninyo ay yung pag-aresto kuno kay Martin Romualdez,” Duterte told reporters. (He is the one who wants drama, and the real drama, if you notice, is the supposed arrest of Martin Romualdez.) When asked to comment during a press conference held at the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in India, President Marcos said, "Of course, this is political, right? It is not belief that it is in fact drama." "It's kind of may masabi e, kailangan may masabi para insultuhin ka or to put you down or sabihin mali iyang ginagawa mo. Basically, pinapatunay niya na wala kang kwentang tao," said Marcos. "So they have to say that. so that's what they're saying. They are not commenting about... that's not a comment on the procedures of court. It's just another attack. We get them a lot," he added. — BAP, GMA News