Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang disputed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the government had long failed to prepare for tensions in the Middle East, saying she herself was outside the Philippines when the conflict began.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Duterte’s remarks raised questions about why she did not alert authorities if she had prior knowledge of a possible war as early as 2022.
“Kung siya’y may alam as early as 2022 at hindi man lang niya ito binanggit diretso sa ating mga kababayan, sino ang hindi nagtrabaho? Sino ang walang ginawa?” Castro said during a Malacañang press briefing on Thursday.
[Translation: If she knew as early as 2022 and did not directly inform the public, who failed to do their job? Who did nothing?]
Castro said that if Duterte had credible information about a looming conflict and did not relay it to authorities, it could amount to a breach of public trust.
“Kung hindi niya ito sinabi, definitely this is a breach of public trust,” she said.
The palace official also noted that Duterte was reportedly abroad when hostilities in the Middle East first erupted.
“Unang putok sa Middle East, sa ating pagkakaalam, wala rito ang Bise Presidente, nasa ibang bansa,” Castro said.
Duterte earlier criticized the Marcos administration’s preparedness for the conflict, saying the threat of war had already been apparent in 2022 and that the government should have begun preparations earlier.
In response, Castro pointed out that Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ran together in the 2022 elections under the UniTeam alliance.
“Tandaan po natin noong 2022 nangangampanya po sila pareho ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., UniTeam sila,” Castro said.
[Translation: They both ran in 2022 under the UniTeam tandem]
She added that if Duterte had early information about a possible conflict, she should have informed the president or relevant government agencies such as the Department of National Defense and failing to do so is tantamount to breach of public trust.
The palace said the government continues to monitor developments in the Middle East and is taking steps to ensure the safety of Filipinos in the region.
