Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed former president Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was involved in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sale of gold reserves, calling the claims a “campaign joke.”
In a Malacañang press briefing on Monday, Castro said that selling the country’s gold reserves, which form part of the country’s Gross International Reserves (GIR), is a regular activity of the BSP to help stimulate the economy.
“Sinabi nga dito ang pagbebenta ng gold, kung mataas ang dapat ibenta,” Castro, also designated as Palace press officer, said.
The undersecretary said the government will take such erroneous statements seriously, and counter them with correct information.
“We will take this seriously para naman hindi magkaroon ng fake news lalo na sa mga taong nakikinig sa kanya, at maaaring naniniwala,” Castro said.
In a statement, the BSP said the country’s GIR is held and managed solely by the central bank for the foreign exchange requirements of the country. Proceeds of any sales stay within the GIR.
The BSP also assured that it will maintain a portion of its reserves in gold to safeguard “against offset, movements in the market price of other assets.” (PND)