EXPRESSION of support to the Marcos administration and Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez has started to pour in, calling on Filipinos to reject the proliferation of intrigues aimed at sowing distrust between Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his chief aide in Malacañang.

In separate statements, the ‘Quezon City Trial Lawyers League, Inc.’ (QCTLLI), the ‘Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance-Maharlika’ (FLAG-Maharlika) and even the Department of National Defense (DND), all express their support to the leadership of President Marcos and his call for national unity and to Rodriguez who was a victim of a vicious rumor last Friday, claiming he had tendered his resignation.

“On the eve of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr., the Quezon City Trial Lawyers League, Inc., an organization of more than 500 law practitioners has called upon its members to rally, support and to stand united behind the present administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. and his entire Cabinet led by Executive Secretary Atty. Victor D. Rodriguez,” QCTLLI said in a statement on Sunday.

The group said it was issuing the statement in order to clear the air as regards the “unfounded and baseless accusations by some quarters directed against ES Rodriguez which in essence was being orchestrated against the PBBM administration.”

It noted that intrigue came barely a month after Marcos was inaugurated as the country’s 17th President and even before he could deliver his first ‘SONA’ (State of the Nation) address this July 25, 2022.

“The QCTLLI stressed that the organization of practicing lawyers adheres to the principles of integrity, probity, competency, justice and fairness in the delivery of legal service to its clients with due regard to the public.

“As an active member and former officer, Atty. Victor D. Rodriguez is an epitome of these virtues and has vastly contributed to the inculcation and propagation of the same as guiding tenets of the QCTLLI,” the group pointed out, adding:

“His vital role and significant contributions that led to the victory of PBBM, VP Sara Duterte-Carpio and the UNITEAM cannot be belittled and certainly deserves to be recognized.

“His pleasing demeanor and unassuming personality will no doubt contribute largely to an efficient, effective, action driven and service-oriented bureaucracy,” the group added.

For his part, Aio Bautista, lead convenor FLAG-Maharlika, denounced the “disinformation” regarding Rodriguez’s false resignation.

Calling Rodriguez as “one of our own,” Bautista also described Rodriguez as “a true loyalist, a diligent worker (and), a friend to our beloved President” whose loyalty is beyond doubt.

“We should unite behind one of our own and protect our government from the well-funded machinery of fake news by non-loyalists and fanatics of disunity who only want to possess power,” the group said.

Rodriguez, a long-time friend, lawyer and spokesman of Pres. Marcos Jr., himself disproved the rumor of his resignation after members of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) went to the Office of the Executive Secretary on Friday and found him busy at work.

“Executive Secretary Atty. Rodriguez steered the recent presidential campaign to victory, “ Bautista stressed.