Photo credit: PCO

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. addressed the recent allegations made by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who accused him of being a drug addict and included in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) watch list during Duterte's term.

In an ambush interview on Monday before his state visit to Vietnam, Marcos responded to Duterte's claims with a somewhat unconventional explanation. "I think it's the fentanyl," Marcos stated, referring to the potent pain medication that Duterte has publicly admitted to taking in the past.

"It is highly addictive and has very serious side effects. PRRD [President Rodrigo D. Duterte] has been taking the drug for a very long time now. When was the last time he told us that he was taking fentanyl? Around five, six years ago? After five, six years, it has to affect him," Marcos explained to reporters.

Expressing concern for his predecessor, Marcos urged Duterte's physicians to take better care of him, emphasizing, "I hope his doctors take better care of him, and not leave things like this as it may cause problems."

When asked to categorically deny any involvement in illegal drugs, Marcos responded with a laugh, stating, "I won't even dignify the question."

Contrary to Duterte's claims, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) released a statement on Monday clarifying that Marcos was never on its drug watch list during Duterte's term.