By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Wednesday said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is wishing Vice President Sara Duterte “good luck” following her announcement of her intent to run for president in the 2028 elections.
“Nadinig niya po at ang sabi niya po ay ‘good luck,’ ‘yun lamang po,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro lambasted Duterte for accusing Marcos Jr. of corruption and his alleged failure to follow through with his campaign promises.
The Vice President also “apologized” for helping Marcos Jr. win the 2022 presidential elections.
“Tandaan po natin, ang taumbayan ang naghalal kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. Kung ano man po ang natulong niya, pareho naman po silang nagtulungan dahil ito ay UniTeam. Kaya huwag niya pong solohin ang credit kung nanalo man ang Pangulo,” Castro said.
In her press conference, Duterte said that she stepped down from the Cabinet because she could not support a “corrupt” 2025 national budget—claiming that she had anticipated that her resignation would eventually lead to her impeachment.
“Siguro po dapat mauna muna na ihingi niya ng tawad kung ano man ang mga isyu ng korapsyon at katiwalian, at diumanong paglulustay ng confidential funds ng kanyang dalawang opisina that time, OVP (Office of the Vice President) at ng DepEd (Department of Education),” Castro said.
“Kung mayroon pang napipintong impeachment, ito po ay dahil sa kanyang kagagawan mismo. Kung wala naman siyang ginawa na mga anomalya at labag sa konstitusyon, hindi naman po siguro siya masasampahan ng mga impeachment complaints,” she added.
Meanwhile, Castro clarified that there are no talks yet on whether the administration would form an alliance with the opposition to counter the candidacy of Duterte in 2028.
She said that Marcos Jr. is focused on working for the Filipino people—referring to the President as a “statesman” rather than a “politician.”
“Ang politician, ang iniisip ay ang susunod na eleksiyon; ang statesman, ang iniisip ay ang susunod na henerasyon,” Castro said.
“Ang gagawin lamang po ng Pangulo ay magtrabaho. Kung hindi siya tutulungan ng kaniyang bise presidente, wala naman pong magagawa ang ating Pangulo kung hindi magtrabaho na lamang para sa ating bayan.”
The Palace official likewise urged Filipinos to be cautious in choosing the country’s next leaders so as not to elect what she called a “Manchurian” candidate.
“Depende na po sa tao kung papaano nila susuriin ang mga kandidato. Isipin po nila ang kandidato at magiging lider ay dapat na makabayan, dapat interes ng bayan ang isinusulong,” Castro said.
-av
