Vice President Sara Duterte addressed the online buzz regarding her refusal to comment on the proposed “Pax Silica” artificial intelligence hub in Tarlac, telling supporters in The Hague not to lose sleep over the criticism.
Speaking at a July 29 gathering supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President singled out content creator Alvin Dave Sarzate, who operates the Alvin & Tourism social media channel, teasing him about the online reaction to her initial response.
”And Alvin, na nawalan ng tulog dahil sa Pax Silica,” Duterte said.
She advised him to ignore the backlash triggered by her decision to stay silent on the controversy.
”Alvin, if they cannot respect a ‘no comment,’ you should not lose sleep over it. That is their problem. That is not your problem.”
”Dapat sila ang ma-stress sa’yo, bakit ikaw ang nai-stress sa kanila?” she added.
The remarks follow the release of an Office of the Vice President (OVP) video where Duterte was asked about the project in New Clark City. During the exchange, a supporter clarified the project name:
”Hindi, ma’am. Pax Silica. Do you know anything about that?”
”Wala, I cannot comment on that,” Duterte replied.
Her response sparked widespread discussion and memes online, with critics questioning her awareness of the project while supporters defended her choice not to weigh in.
Pax Silica is a US-led international partnership involving 23 countries aimed at building data centers and boosting AI infrastructure.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously touted the project as a major driver for local economic growth and job creation following its global launch in late 2025.