MANILA — Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not give attention to what it described as “early politicking” or “early campaigning” following the formation of a new political coalition, stressing that the administration remains focused on governance amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

“Kung anuman po ang ninanais nila sa gitna ng krisis sa Middle East, iyong maaga nilang pamumulitika, iyong maaga nilang pangangampanya, hindi na po iyan papansinin ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon na ito,” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on April 13.

Castro made the statement when asked if the administration felt threatened by the newly formed coalition, which has positioned itself as a unity movement “not for power, but for the people.”

“Kung ano man po ang nais nila at kung ano ang nais nilang ipakita sa taumbayan, ang Pangulo tutok lang trabaho, walang bakasyon, walang pamumulitika,” she added.

The Palace official said Marcos is not engaged in politics and remains focused on governance despite criticisms from opponents.

She also raised concern over what she described as the use of personal motivations to influence public opinion.

“Ang nakakabahala lamang dito, ay ang personal na galit, personal na interes at personal na ambisyon ay gamitin ang taumbayan na galitin ang puso ng bawat isa sa atin sa pamamagitan ng paglalahad ng kanilang fake news. Iyan ang nakakabahala,” Castro said.

The RAGE Coalition was launched on Sunday and is composed of former House speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s Partido Reporma, Mike Defensor’s Reform PH, and Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte of PDP–Laban.

Castro also responded to comments attributed to Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the investigation into alleged flood control anomalies, calling the remark “self-destruction.”

“Self-distruction, ang pagpapaimbestiga sa maanomalyang flood control projects ay self-destruction para sa Pangulo? Parang kakaiba po yata ang kanyang pananaw,” she said.

She questioned why similar allegations were not thoroughly investigated during the previous administration.

“Hindi po ganyan ang pananaw ng Pangulo. Ang Pangulo po, kahit maapektuhan at matamaan ang kanyang administrasyon, kahit ang kaalyado man niya at kaibigan niya or kamag-anak niya ay maapektuhan, ipagpapatuloy po ang pag-iimbestiga sa flood control projects, bakit?” Castro said.

“Dahil ito po ay pondo ng bayan na dapat i-report sa bayan. Kung mayroong dapat managot, iyan ang nais ng Pangulo, dapat na managot; hindi dapat na tinatakpan, hindi kinakailangan na magkaroon ng cover-up,” she added.