Malacañang on Monday defended the conferment of a honorary Doctor of Laws degree on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, saying it was in recognition of his significant contributions to the nation.
“Marami kasi ang hindi nakakaunawa marahil ng katagang honoris causa. Ang mga tumutuligsa rito ay mga taong kung hindi man mapagmataas, ay mga kumakalaban sa Pangulo — the usual obstructionists at destabilizers, o ‘yung mga sumasakay lang sa nakikita sa social media,
pero hindi nauunawaan ang totoong issue,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a video message.
She went on: “Ang titulong honoris causa ay isang honorary degree. Ito ay isang pagkilala o parangal para sa taong mataas ang naabot na posisyon, may mga mahahalagang naiambag sa komunidad o mga nagawa para sa bansa.”
Castro issued the clarification after Marcos drew criticism upon receiving the highest honorary degree from the PLM at the university’s graduation exercises last week.
The Palace spokesperson said Filipinos should not forget Marcos’ actions that deserved such a recognition, especially his resolve in upholding the Philippines’ rights in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
“Ang pagpaputol ng 300-meter floating barrier na inilagay ng China Coast Guard sa Scarborough Shoal noong September 2023 para harangin ang ating mangingisda na makapasok at makapangisda sa traditional fishing lagoon ay isang gawain ng isang matapat na leader,” she said.
She also cited the President’s anti-corruption probe, his efforts to mitigate the fuel crisis amid the Middle East hostilities, etc.
“Ang masagip ang isang kababayan mula sa death row, sentensyang pinataw ng ibang bansa; pagsagip sa 17 OFW sa Qatar sa kasong illegal assembly, at sa 24 Filipinos na nakadetained sa Eastern Siberia sa Russia. Ito ay nagawa ng Pangulo dahil sa maganda niyang relasyon
sa leaders ng Qatar at Russia,” Castro said.
She also singled out Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, a lawyer, for questioning the conferment of the honorary degree on the President.
Co previously pointed out that there is “no honor in widespread corruption and criminal negligence” and that the conferment of the honorary degree is an “insult” to lawyers.
Castro, who is also a lawyer, responded by stressing that it is inaccurate to equate the honorary degree with the actual degree earned by law graduates and lawyers.
“Ang isa sa nakita natin bumatikos ay itong si Congressman Renee Co, na wala nang nakita magandang ginawa ng Pangulo. ‘Yan marahil ang kanilang goal, laging maging negatibo sa administrasyon. Ngunit ang pamimintas na ito sa ginawa ng PLM sa pagbibigay ng honoris
causa sa pinakamataas na lider na bansa ay pagpapakita lamang ni Congressman Co ng kanyang kahinaan,” she said.
Castro said Co’s slander of the President only showed what she actually learned and what she actually achieved as a result of her knowledge.
“Sa aking pagkakaalam, hindi itinuturo sa law schools ang maging arugante at huwag
niyang idamay ang lahat ng abugado dahil alam naming mga abugado na ang pagmamata ng kapwa, paninira ng walang basehan, ay hindi gawain ng matino at mahusay na abugado,” she said.