Vice President Sara Duterte fired back at Malacañang after a Palace official accused her of repeatedly spreading misinformation, saying such statements reflect poorly on the Office of the President.
Speaking in Davao City, Duterte criticized Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro for publicly branding her as someone with a “talent” for falsehoods, arguing that the words of the President’s spokesperson carry weight beyond the Philippines.
“I’ve been saying it over and over again, that Claire Castro brings shame to our country because she is the spokesperson of the Office of the President. If the Office of the President speaks, the whole world listens, not just our countrymen. If that’s what she says, she is bringing shame to our country,” Duterte said.
Castro earlier rejected Duterte’s allegation that the Marcos administration pressures or intimidates people who speak to her, after Duterte claimed she stopped communicating with some of her allies in the Senate to shield them from possible retaliation.
Duterte made that remark while speaking to reporters in Zamboanga last Monday, describing herself as distancing from others to prevent them from being targeted by the administration.
In her response, Castro pointed to Duterte’s previous statement regarding the government’s low-priced rice program, including Duterte’s comment that the cheap rice was only suitable for pigs.
The Vice President, once considered an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has since emerged as one of his most vocal critics. She stepped down from her posts as education secretary and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in June 2024 amid a breakdown in ties with the Marcos family.
On Friday, Duterte also addressed early discussions surrounding the 2028 presidential elections, saying anyone who meets constitutional requirements has the right to seek the country’s top post, amid reports that the united opposition is considering former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Sen. Risa Hontiveros as potential candidates.
“If we still have a country that can be called the Philippines in 2028 and there is elections, everyone who can run can,” Duterte said.
She added that she fears the country may face deeper instability by then, citing what she described as worsening public conditions.
“Is there still the Philippines to talk about in 2028? We are drowning in garbage, floods and all economic indicators, even in corruption, we are already bankrupt. No proper work is happening in the government. There are no development projects that we can say. None of that. So that’s why I’m afraid that one day we might wake up and there won’t be a proper government anymore. The country is in chaos,” Duterte added.
Former budget secretary Florencio Abad earlier said opposition figures Senators Bam Aquino and Hontiveros were open to running for president in 2028, while maintaining that Robredo remains the strongest option for the coalition.
Duterte declined to comment when asked about her own plans for the 2028 race, although she has previously said she would decide in December 2026 whether she will run for president.
The Vice President also linked her higher trust and satisfaction ratings compared to Marcos to what she described as the public’s assessment of government performance.
“I believe people look at what an official has done for the people and there, they base their assessment or rating on a public official,” Duterte said.
Her remarks came after the Social Weather Stations released its fourth quarter 2025 survey showing that 54 percent of respondents were satisfied with her performance, based on interviews conducted from Nov. 24 to 30.
The figure was slightly higher than her 52 percent satisfaction rating in September 2025. The same survey results showed her dissatisfaction rating dropped to 26 percent from 30 percent, while undecided responses rose slightly to 19 percent from 17 percent.
The poll placed Duterte’s net satisfaction score at +28, categorized by SWS as “moderate,” improving from her +22 rating in the previous quarter.
SWS earlier reported that Marcos’ net satisfaction rating remained “neutral” at -3, with 40 percent satisfied and 43 percent dissatisfied, nearly unchanged from his September 2025 score of -5.
“We at the Office of the Vice President are always grateful, whether there is a survey or not. As Vice President, I thank the continued support of our citizens, our countrymen, in programs, projects and activities of the Office of the Vice President and of course my walks,” Duterte said.
