Manila, April 30 -- Malacanang on Wednesday rejected attempts to politicize President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order granting free train rides from April 30 to May 3, maintaining that the move is a sincere gesture to honor and pay tribute to Filipino workers in time for Labor Day.

"Huwag naman po nating bigyan ng malisya. Hayaan po nating makinabang iyong taumbayan sa mga maaaring itulong ng gobyerno sa kanila (Let us not inject malice into this. Let the public benefit from what the government can offer them," Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing at the Palace.

Asked about the timing of the initiative - days ahead of the May midterm elections and amid the release of public opinion sur...