By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Wednesday said it would be a “waste of time” to respond to Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest remarks against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., saying her accusations against the administration have no factual basis.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro criticized VP Duterte’s admission that she did not listen to the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday.
Usec. Castro said the SONA is a Constitutional duty through which the President reports the administration’s accomplishments and outlines plans for the country.
She added, noting that failing to respect the SONA also meant failing to respect the Constitution and the country’s institutions, “Ano po ba ang nangyayari sa isang tao kapag hindi po inaalam ang sitwasyon ng kanyang bansa, kung ano ang programa ng Pangulo? Walang alam.”
Usec. Castro likewise urged the public to remain discerning and seek the truth, warning that people who remain uninformed are more susceptible to manipulation, “May mga tao na ang nais ay manatiling walang alam, mangmang ang mga kababayan. Mas madaling manipulahin ang mga taong walang alam.”
“Obligasyon po nating alamin ang katotohanan at huwag tayong sumunod sinuman na nag-uudyok na manatili tayong mangmang sa katotohanan. Mabubulag po tayo diyan. Obligasyon po nating alamin para hindi tayo manatiling mangmang sa katotohanan.”
Asked about VP Duterte’s remarks questioning the administration’s fulfillment of campaign promises, including the P20-per-kilo rice initiative, Usec. Castro said the statements were all lies, noting that the subsidized rice is already being sold through KADIWA centers, benefitting many Filipinos.
Usec. Castro also rejected Duterte’s claim that President Marcos Jr. failed to fulfill a personal promise, referring to the Vice President’s previous statement that she had wanted to use the presidential helicopter to travel home every night so she could return home to be with her children.
She likewise brushed aside VP Duterte’s allegation that the current administration is becoming a dictatorship and her claim that she was uncertain whether the 2028 national elections would push through, saying it was likewise a “waste of time” to respond to such assertions.
Malacañang official also slammed VP Duterte’s claim that incidents of school violence reflected weak leadership, saying the government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) had responded swiftly to recent incidents and continue to take the necessary steps to address the incidents.
“Mas maganda po talagang alamin kung anong programa ng Pangulo para hindi po tayo nabubulag sa katotohanan.” (PNA)
