VP Sara source of fake news - Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - A Palace official called out Vice President Sara Duterte as a source of disinformation regarding First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, labeling her remarks as “fake news” during a briefing on Monday, May 5.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Duterte said in a recent interview that the first lady was involved in a drug-related incident in the United States.

Duterte also said her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested and sent to The Hague to divert public attention.

“Mayroong namatay sa Amerika at nandoon sa loob ng kuwarto si First Lady Liza Marcos. At nandoon sa police report, cocaine iyong sinasabing nagkalat doon sa kuwarto na iyon ay bigla na lang nilang hinila, kinuha, dinukot si Pangulong Duterte,” Duterte said.

[Translation: Someone died in America and First Lady Liza Marcos was inside the room. The police report said cocaine was found scattered in that room, and suddenly, they took and abducted President Duterte.]

Castro rejected the accusation and questioned the vice president’s credibility.

“Sa kaniya pala nanggaling ang fake news. Siya pala ang source ng fake news na ito na pinapakalat laban sa unang ginang, kay first lady. Unang-una po, kailangan pa ba nating paniwalaan ang mga ganitong klaseng istorya na nanggagaling sa bise presidente? Tandaan po natin, dumating si first Lady sa Pilipinas, March 10, 2025. Kung gusto niyang alamin iyan bilang bise presidente ay may record po iyan,” Castro said.

[Translation: So it turns out the fake news came from her. She is the source of fake news being spread against the first lady. First of all, do we even need to believe stories like this coming from the vice president? Let’s remember, the first lady arrived in the Philippines on March 10, 2025. If she wanted to verify that as vice president, there are records available.]

Castro also said Mrs. Marcos was present at an event with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines representatives the following day.

“Makikita po natin na kasama niya ang ilan sa mga representatives ng Girl Scouts of the Philippines: Nandiyan po si Dra. Cristina Yuson, national president, Mrs. Teresita Gonzales, GSP central board member, at si Mrs. Roselyn Davadilla, national executive director. March 11 po nang naaresto or dinala ang dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC. Papaano po ito maiko-correlate kay first lady, samantalang March 11, nandito na siya sa Pilipinas kasama ang sinabi po nating mga representatives ng Girl Scouts of the Philippines,” she added.

[Translation: We can see that she was with some representatives of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines: Dr. Cristina Yuson, national president; Mrs. Teresita Gonzales, GSP central board member; and Mrs. Roselyn Davadilla, national executive director. Former President Duterte was arrested or taken to the ICC on March 11. How can this be linked to the first lady when she was already here in the Philippines on March 11 with the said Girl Scouts representatives?]

Castro said Duterte could have verified the information before going public.

“So tanong natin, dapat pa ngang paniwalaan ang mga sinasabi ni Bise Presidente, kung sa kanya naman pala nanggagaling ang mga fake news at disinformation na ito,” Castro added.

[Translation: So the question is, should we still believe what the vice president says if she herself is spreading this fake news and disinformation?]