By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Malacañang said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains firm in his stance against illegal drugs, with concerned agencies conducting regular operations to curb their trade in the Philippines.
This, as Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro denounced Vice President Sara Duterte for touting the seizure of 521 kilograms of Philippine-bound illegal drugs at an airport in Laos as ‘embarrassing’ for the country.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Usec. Castro criticized Duterte for being selective in her interpretation of the administration’s efforts against illegal drugs by showing visual aids that detail a string of successful operations conducted by the Bureau of Customs:
- BOC-NAIA uncovers P496.4 million shabu concealed in machinery (October 5, 2026)
- PDEA foils P20.7 million ketamine smuggling attempt (October 6, 2026)
- P43.7 million droga, nasabat ng BOC-NAIA sa 8 abandonadong parcel (October 12, 2026)
She emphasized, “Wag maliitin ang ginagawa ng gobyerno, dahil sa panahon po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., lalong lalo na ang BOC, PNP, PDEA, marami na po na nasabat na ilegal na droga. At ito po ay lantad na isinasagawa at walang cover-up.”
The forfeited contraband, valued at P11.5 billion, was stashed in several suitcases aboard a private jet and was intercepted after authorities recovered a flight plan that shows the shipment is headed to Mindanao.
As of press time, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is conducting a probe into the two members of a drug syndicate known as the “Golden Triangle”, with alias Fajad and alias Boyet under the authorities’ crosshairs on the heels of the foiled smuggling attempt.
On VP Sara refuting PBBM’s national security-related remarks
Meanwhile, the Malacañang official dismissed Vice President Duterte’s response on President Marcos Jr.’s earlier pronouncements, citing her as a threat to national security if a connection can be established between the alleged China-linked funds and her various businesses.
“Ang sabi ng Pangulo, kung may ebidensya, ito ay makokonsiderang national threat—kung. So paano sasabihin ng Bise Presidente na way back 2023 ay kinokonsidera na siyang isang national threat? Maliban lamang kung yan mismo ang kanyang nasa isip at nasa kanyang puso.”
Usec. Castro also took a shot at Duterte’s remarks defending her dealings with China through her enterprises, with the former stressing that the latter’s pronouncements confirm that she does business with the East Asian nation.
“There is no prohibition in dealing with China in relation to trade and investment. Alam naman natin yan. And we are also dealing with China in a very diplomatic manner. [Pero] iba naman ang usapan kung ipinaglalaban natin ang sarili nating teritoryo at ang interes natin sa WPS.”
The Malacañang official concluded her statement by questioning the credibility of Cale88 Foods Corporation, owned by VP Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, which continues to be a focal point of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into the unexplained wealth of the vice president. (with report from Ryan Lesigues | PTV News)
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