Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang slammed Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks on the 2028 elections, with press officer Claire Castro suggesting the vice president may be “sowing intrigue” just like her father.
Castro made the remark after Duterte said in The Hague, Netherlands that Filipinos could only “pray” that the 2028 presidential elections would push through and remain credible.
“Kitang-kita ninyo naman na habang sumasagot ang bise presidente ay nangingiti siya. Siguro kahit siya ay natatawa sa kaniyang sariling sagot,” Castro said.
[Translation: You can clearly see that while the vice president was answering, she was smiling. Perhaps even she found her answer amusing.]
Castro said Duterte’s statement shows her eagerness to discuss the 2028 elections amid urgent national concerns.
“Unang-una po nakikita rin natin ang kasabikan ng bise presidente na pag-usapan ang halalan sa 2028, samantalang ang pangulo ay abala sa pag-aayos ng epekto ng krisis sa Middle East,” she said.
[Translation: First, we can see the vice president’s eagerness to talk about the 2028 elections, while the president is focused on addressing the effects of the Middle East crisis.]
Castro compared the vice president to her father.
“At ang bise presidente naman ay isang abogado, parang ito ba ay like father, like daughter… alam naman natin na umamin ang dating Pangulong Duterte na siya ay eksperto sa paggawa ng intriga at pagplanta ng ebidensiya,” Castro said.
[Translation: The vice president is a lawyer — is this like father, like daughter? We know the former president admitted he was an expert in sowing intrigue and planting evidence.]
She added that the younger Duterte’s remarks may be baseless and should be reviewed in light of the Constitution.
“So, ang mga ganitong sagot mula kay bise presidente ay alam natin intriga lamang, mga kuwentong walang basehan at sana ma-review niya ulit, bilang abogado kung ano ba ang nilalaman ng konstitusyon,” Castro said.
[Translation: Statements like these from the vice president are mere intrigue, baseless claims, and she should review the Constitution as a lawyer.]
Duterte earlier said she intends to run for president in 2028 but noted uncertainty over whether elections would proceed.
“We can only pray that there will be presidential elections in 2028 and it will be honest, orderly, and peaceful,” the vice president said in an interview with supporters in The Hague.
Duterte faces mounting political pressure back home, including impeachment complaints that have been approved by the House committee on justice and may soon be referred to the plenary.
