Metro Manila, Philippines – Palace press officer Claire Castro on Wednesday, Nov. 26, said Vice President Sara Duterte’s anticipation of the president’s resignation was a “form of destabilization” and called it “unacceptable behavior.”
Castro flagged Duterte’s remark in a briefing, saying that the vice president was dragging the public confidence of the people towards the administration.
“It is not acceptable for a vice president to anticipate the resignation of the president…This is definitely a form of political destabilization,” she added.
The vice president earlier said she will uphold her constitutional mandate to assume the presidency, insisting that the chief executive should undergo a new drug test to prove his capacity to lead the country.
“There is no question about my readiness. I presented myself to you when I was a candidate for vice president with the understanding that I am the first in line of succession,” Duterte said.
Castro said the statements “contribute to the climate of uncertainty and crisis.”
“Nag-anticipate siya na mawawala ang pangulo. ‘Yan po ang balak niya, yan po ang nasa isip niya, at yan po ang ginagawa niya,” Castro said.
[Translation: She anticipated that the president would disappear. That’s what she planned, that’s what she had in mind, and that’s what she’s doing.]
She reminded the public about the unanswered issue of ghost names in receipts of the vice president’s confidential funds.
“Itanong natin sa taong bayan: Handa na rin po ba kayo sa mas maraming Mary Grace Piatos? [Let’s ask the people: Are you ready for more Mary Grace Piatos?]” she said, referring to the fictitious name – a combination of a restaurant and a snack brand – in the confidential fund vouchers of the Office of the Vice President.
