Marcos to students: Engage in sports

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos poked fun at his health yesterday as he tried to lift a 120-kilo barbell when he visited the newly renovated facilities at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

Marcos said he has learned a trick whenever he feels lazy for physical training, as he encouraged students to engage in sports activities to boost their health.

“When I feel lazy, I have a trick for myself. If I don’t want to train, I will just stretch. But when I start to sweat, then I continue,” Marcos said in his speech.

“My father (former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.) asked me to compete in all sports. It’s not that simple,” Marcos added.

“There is no other activity that builds character better than sports. There is no other activity, especially for young people, because win or lose, it helps you become a better person,” he added.

He said he directed Education Secretary Sonny Angara to find a way to bring sports back to schools.

“Without that, we miss out on a great deal of life lessons that will not be learned by our children. Those are life lessons that we get from sports and that’s why to see these new facilities, these new arrangements that you have made for our athletes, is something that brings a great deal of joy to my heart because our athletes really should be supported,” Marcos said.

The upgraded complex features improved dormitories, a redesigned Philippine Sports Museum, rehabilitated aquatic facilities and modernized offices of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Meanwhile, the First Lady yesterday responded to a viral social media post depicting her supposedly calling Sen. Imee Marcos ‘retokada’ as a reaction to the senator’s recent drug use claims against her and the President.

“Speaking of fake news… ‘welcome to entertainment, Pinoy style,’” she said on a post on Facebook.

Malacañang has branded the senator’s claim as a “desperate move,” dismissing it as an attempt to malign the First Couple.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the senator brought up a rehashed issue that was already disproved when the President tested negative for drug use in 2021.

PNP remains loyal

The Philippine National Police remains loyal to the chain of command despite allegations that the President and the First Lady are using illegal drugs.

“We will remain loyal to the Constitution and to the chain of command,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said at a news conference in Camp Crame yesterday.

He added that the PNP remains non-partisan and insulated from politics. – Emmanuel Tupas