MANILA — First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos dismissed criticisms from the Dutertes and other detractors, asserting she won’t descend to their level.

In an interview on broadcaster Anthony Taberna’s television show aired last Friday, Mrs. Marcos revealed that the disparaging remarks from her critics hardly affect her.

“Bring it on, honey. You’re only as big as your enemy. But you’re not my enemy. I refuse to stoop to their level,” she remarked.

“Every time they sling mud, they only tarnish themselves further. Look at their faces, becoming uglier by the day. Whereas we remain as cute as ever, don’t we?” she added with a smirk.

However, Mrs. Marcos draws a firm line when her children, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Joseph Simon Marcos, and William Vincent Marcos, are targeted.

“I get upset when they target my sons,” she admitted. “Like when former President Duterte suggested, ‘Oh, Sandro Marcos wants to be prime minister.'”

Despite the attacks, she has no intentions of pursuing legal action against her critics.

“Filing charges consumes too much energy. I’d rather not waste my time on that,” Mrs. Marcos remarked.

She remains optimistic that the attacks will cease once her husband’s term concludes. “Maybe in 1,500 days, they won’t have anything left to say,” she speculated.

Mrs. Marcos singled out Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte among her critics.

Tensions between the Marcoses and Dutertes surfaced earlier this year after the former president accused Marcos of drug use during a fiery rally in Davao City.

In February, Vice President Duterte claimed everything was fine between her and President Marcos but avoided commenting on her relationship with the First Lady.

Mrs. Marcos seemed to have distanced herself from Duterte during departure honors for the President’s state visit to Vietnam in late January.

Expressing her disappointment, she stated, “She’s already crossed the line with me. I mean, my husband would do anything to protect her.”

Referring to former Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran against Marcos in 2022, Mrs. Marcos noted, “Even Leni never stooped that low.”

Among other critics mentioned by Mrs. Marcos was former Biliran representative Glenn Chong, who threatened to slap her during a prayer rally in Manila.

Mrs. Marcos also questioned the change of heart of another critic, Sass Sasot, who represented her in a cyber libel case for free but later switched sides.

Counting vlogger Maharlika among her detractors, Mrs. Marcos expressed disappointment at the loss of their friendship.

“The money you received better be worth the friendship you sacrificed,” she concluded.

The First Lady vehemently denied claims that her husband is “henpecked” and that she dictates his decisions.

She emphasized sacrificing her law firm, Marcos & Associates, to support her husband’s presidency.

(By el Amigo/MNM)