Malacañang has raised doubts about Vice President Sara Duterte’s capacity to lead the country after she admitted she does not know how to use a computer — a revelation that a Palace official said should give Filipinos pause about her presidential ambitions.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remarks during an ambush interview on the sidelines of the 8th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, where she did not hold back in questioning what the admission means for governance.
“‘Yun ang nakakaalarma dahil nais niyang maging pangulo. Pero paano siya magkakaroon ng tamang pagpapasiya, ni paggamit ng computer ay hindi niya alam,” Castro said.
Duterte disclosed the limitation while denying reports that she hurled a laptop at her defense counsel, lawyer Michael Poa. She clarified she would not have been capable of doing so, saying she has no working knowledge of laptops or computers and depends on colleagues to handle digital documents on her behalf.
Castro questioned what that dependence means in practice, suggesting the Vice President likely has someone else operate her devices for her.
“Siya ang magpapatunay niyan. Inamin niya mismo na siya ay hindi marunong gumamit ng computer at ginagamit lamang niya ito kapag nagzo-Zoom. So most probably may taga-pindot pa siya nito,” she said.
The Palace official pressed further, questioning whether someone unfamiliar with basic technology could meaningfully oversee the people working under her.
“Paano mamamahala ang isang kagaya ng Bise Presidente na magpukpok lang ng tao nang hindi niya na-rereview ang ginagawa ng mga taong inuutusan niya,” Castro said.
The episode draws renewed attention to a pattern of self-described limitations Duterte has acknowledged in public office. During her tenure as Department of Education secretary in 2023, she openly admitted she lacked an educational background and described her management approach as largely motivational.
“Ang magawa ko lang (what I only do) is I do very well, admittedly, is magpukpok talaga ng tao (is to motivate people) to do what they’re supposed to do,” Duterte said at the launch of the revised Kindergarten to Grade 10 curriculum. She had also acknowledged at the time that she was among the few ASEAN education ministers without sufficient credentials for the role.
