Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Oct. 14, declaring that she has no right to demand President Bongbong Marcos’ resignation after insisting that she herself would never step down amid her impeachment trial.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president remains focused on governing and protecting the country’s interests, dismissing Duterte’s earlier calls for him to leave office.

“Wala siyang karapatan na humingi ng resignation ng pangulo. Ang pangulo ay nagtatrabaho,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

[Translation: She has no right to demand the president’s resignation. The president is working.]

Castro also accused the vice president of undermining the administration rather than helping address the country’s problems.

“Kung hindi po siya magre-resign, decision niya po ‘yan. Walang manghihimasok diyan pero ang pagsasabi niya na mag-resign ang pangulo, ‘yan ay malaking kalokohan,” she added.

[Translation: If she refuses to resign, that is her decision. Nobody will interfere, but her demand for the president to resign is absurd.]

Duterte earlier declared that she would never resign from the Office of the Vice President despite the impeachment proceedings against her.

The palace spokesperson also defended Marcos against Duterte’s criticism of the government’s preparations for El Niño, accusing the vice president of engaging in political attacks without offering solutions.

Castro cited the administration’s ongoing interventions to address potential disruptions to food, water and power supplies.

She further questioned Duterte’s willingness to cooperate with the president, referring to her previous remarks about knowing how to achieve the administration’s rice price target but refusing to share her proposed solution.

Castro maintained that Marcos had already convened government agencies to coordinate the response to El Niño and was taking concrete steps to address its impact.