By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday slammed Vice President Sara Duterte’s attempt to divert public attention by claiming that the impeachment efforts against her are part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s desire to stay in power.
“Siguro iyan po ang nais niyang maging naratibo, ipakita sa taumbayam. Pero nawawala po ‘yung issue patungkol sa kanyang accountability tungkol sa confidential funds at iba’t iba pang mga complaints na napapaloob sa articles of impeachment (Maybe that’s the narrative that she wants to tell the people to overshadow the issue about her accountability regarding confidential funds and various other complaints contained in the articles of impeachment),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
This comes after Duterte on Wednesday claimed Marcos and his allies wanted her removed from office because the President wanted to “perpetuate his or his family’s power.”
Duterte also claimed that the current administration sees her as a threat, considering that she is a “frontrunner” in the 2028 presidential race.
Castro stressed that while the Palace already expected Duterte’s “diversionary tactic,” it wanted the Vice President to shed light on the issues thrown at her.
“Siguro po, nais din po nating malaman ang katotohanan at huwag lamang pong magtago sa naratibo na siya ‘yung frontrunner para sa (Maybe, we also want to know the truth and not just hide behind the narrative that she is the frontrunner in the) 2028 presidential election,” she said.
Castro also expressed dismay over Duterte’s “emotional” response to the criticisms she is facing following her recent “personal” trips abroad.
She questioned Duterte’s “confusing” remarks about her overseas trips after the Vice President said she was “still working” while on a “personal trip” in Australia.
“Nakita po natin kung papaano po sumagot ang Bise Presidente, napaka-emotional. Sabi nga po natin, may kasabihan po na (We saw how the Vice President responded, very emotional. As we said, there is a saying that) ‘When emotions are high, intelligence is low.’ Never speak out of anger,” Castro said.
She said Duterte should report to the Filipino people the results of her official functions while she is not in the Philippines.
“So, ang tanong natin, kung hindi ito personal trip, sana ay naging tapat siya sa pagsasabi kung ano ba ang dahilan ng kaniyang pagpunta sa Australia at hindi naman ito tututulan ng administrasyon (our question is, if this was not a personal trip, she should be honest in stating the reason for her visit to Australia and the administration would not object to it),” Castro said.
“Magkakaroon po talaga ng confusion, conflict of interest. At ngayon na inamin niya, sinabi niya na siya ay nagtatrabaho bilang Bise Presidente, lumabas siya ng bansa, kailangan na po siyang mag-ulat sa bayan, ano ang ginawa niya sa Australia, ano ang naging resulta ng kaniyang official function (There will definitely be confusion, conflict of interest. And now that she admitted, she said she was working as Vice President, she went out of the country, she needs to report to the people what she did in Australia, the results of her official functions).”
Duterte earlier admitted that Australia was one of the countries being considered by lawyers of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, for his interim release from detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She, however, claimed her trip had nothing to do with that plan. (PNA)
