Malacañang has accused Vice President Sara Duterte of resorting to nothing but destructive criticism against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., following her latest tirade linking him and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to corruption.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Tuesday, September 30, that Duterte was attempting to deflect public attention from her own controversies.
“‘Wag ipahid ng bise presidente kung anuman ang patungkol sa mga maanomalyang nagaganap ngayon. Hindi po malilinis ng bise presidente ang mga akusasyon. Hindi lang mga akusasyon, kundi pag-amin ng kanyang ama mismo, tungkol sa pagnanakaw sa pondo ng bayan,” Castro stressed.
The Palace official underscored that the Vice President’s recurring remarks were aimed solely at maligning the Chief Executive. “Ang tangi lang po yata niyang alam ay sirain ang Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” she added.
Duterte has in recent months delivered harsh words against Marcos, accusing him of incompetence and even threatening to exhume the remains of his late father if attacks against her continued. In a separate controversy last November, she drew widespread backlash for remarks construed as a death threat against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez.
The fallout has been significant. The National Bureau of Investigation recommended filing criminal charges against Duterte, including grave threats and inciting to sedition, while the House of Representatives moved to impeach her last February. The Senate later remanded the articles, and in July, the Supreme Court barred any further impeachment complaints against her until February 2026.
In January, Marcos signed an executive order removing Duterte from the National Security Council, formally marking the collapse of their once-powerful alliance. The rift has since grown into one of the most contentious political battles in recent Philippine history.
