Malacañang on Friday dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent verbal attacks as mere “lies and drama,” describing them as attempts at character assassination against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly intended to gain public sympathy.
The Palace made the statement after Duterte claimed that several invitations to speak at public events were cancelled, saying those who invited her did not want to be “targeted” by the administration.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that even Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, had called her a “drama queen.”
“Mismo ang dating Pangulong Duterte ang nagsabi na may mga pagkakataon na ang Bise Presidente ay sinungaling (Former President Duterte said there were times when the Vice President was lying),” Castro said.
“So, kailan pa ba natin paniniwalaan ang mga sinasabi ng Bise Presidente kung mismo ang kaniyang ama ay sinasabing siya ay nagsisinungaling (So, when can we believe the Vice President if even her father says she’s lying),” she added.
Castro also said Duterte should not have pursued the vice presidency, noting that her tenure has been spent criticizing the government rather than supporting initiatives to advance the country.
“Mas umunlad sana or mas uunlad pa ha, maliban sa ginagawa ng Pangulo ngayon at kapag siya’y may katuwang para sa pag-unlad ng bansa, mas naging mainam sana. Pero sabi nga natin, nasa huli ang pagsisisi (The country could have progressed more alongside the President’s efforts. But as they say, regret comes last),” Castro said.
She clarified, however, that President Marcos has never expressed regret in choosing Duterte as his running mate, and emphasized that cooperation—not baseless attacks—is needed for the government to succeed.
“Kaya para sa Pangulo, hindi pamumulitika at paninira kung hindi kooperasyon at pagtutulungan ang makakapagsulong sa atin para sa isang Bagong Pilipinas (For the President, it is not politics or baseless attacks, but cooperation and working together that will move us forward toward a New Philippines),” Castro said. (PNA)
