Malacañang has denied any involvement in the filing of plunder and graft complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that the complainants are critics—not allies—of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed allegations that the administration orchestrated the cases, saying there is no link between the President and those who filed the complaints.
“The complainants are not part of the President’s political allies. Instead, they are, in fact, his critics. So how could he casually tell them to file plunder and graft charges against VP Sara?” Castro said in a text message to reporters on Friday, December 13.
Her statement followed accusations by Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) deputy spokesperson Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, who claimed the Marcos administration was behind the complaints to undermine Duterte’s possible presidential bid in 2028, calling the move a “political stunt.”
Castro rejected the claim and criticized what she described as “obstructionists” for attempting to implicate the President in the controversy.
“It is clear that these obstructionists operate against President Marcos Jr. They will always fabricate stories to divert attention away from the corruption allegations against VP Sara,” she said.
She emphasized that the complaints were independently filed and centered solely on allegations involving Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds.
“Are they blind, or are they simply diehard Duterte supporters? They should have checked who the complainants are in this instance,” Castro added.
Plunder and graft complaints were filed on Friday before the Office of the Ombudsman against Duterte and several former officials of the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.