Malacañang has called on Vice President Sara Duterte to stop questioning the direction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s leadership, warning her against making public remarks that paint the administration in a negative light.
During a Palace briefing on Thursday, Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that the President remains fully focused on governance, unlike others who choose to go on vacation.
“Hindi po natin siya hinahanapan ng anumang trabaho, huwag na lang po niyang pintasan ang pamahalaan, dahil ang Pangulo, nagtatrabaho,” Castro said. She stressed that it’s not right for the Vice President to “ipangalandakan sa buong mundo na ang Pangulo ay walang direksyon.”
The comment follows Vice President Duterte’s recent personal trip to Kuala Lumpur, which coincided with remarks from her spokesperson, Atty. Ruth Castelo, who compared the VP’s duties to that of the President, suggesting their roles share similar weight and responsibility.
Castro, however, fired back, saying, “Hindi naman siguro din kasama sa mandato ng Presidente na laging personal trip o nagbabakasyon,” indirectly referencing Duterte’s overseas trip.
When asked about Castelo’s statement distancing the Vice President from political attacks by saying she’s “not an attack dog,” Castro dryly replied, “VP Sara does not need any more an attack dog. Hindi niya na po kailangan ang isang attack dog. So, you know what I mean.”
