Malacañang said Thursday, September 17, that the failure of Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp to pay attention to Palace briefings is their own loss and does not affect the administration.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement in response to remarks from Duterte’s new spokesperson, Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., who criticized Castro and said he would focus instead on what he considers serious criticisms against the administration.
Castro said the regular Palace briefings are intended to provide updates on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s programs, accomplishments and plans, while also giving members of the media an opportunity to raise questions.
“Laging binabanggit na walang ginagawa ito pala iyong dahilan: walang panahon na makinig, walang panahon na manood at walang panahong pakinggan nang seryoso ang mga sinasabi especially dito sa briefing – malaking kawalan iyon; kawalan nila iyon, hindi natin kawalan iyon,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
She was responding to Panelo’s statement that Castro “is difficult to take seriously.” Panelo also said he did not intend to answer every statement made by the Palace official because, according to him, the Duterte camp needed to respond to more serious criticisms.
Castro said the comments suggested that Duterte’s camp had not been following the information being provided during Palace briefings.
“Ngayon natin nakita may pag-amin na hindi sila nakikinig sa ating sinasabi kaya marahil ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang Bise Presidente ay nagmumukhang clueless, walang alam sa anong ginagawa ng administrasyon para sa ating mga kababayan,” Marcos said.
Following the exchange, Castro said she expected Duterte and her representatives to stop referring to her statements or mentioning her name.
“At ang mensaheng ito ay hindi para sa mga taong ayaw makinig at ayaw seryosohin ang mga programa ng Pangulo. At aasahan natin ngayon mula sa Bise Presidente at sa kaniyang mga alagad na hindi nila babanggitin ang aking anumang sinasabi kahit na ang aking pangalan o ang aking posisyon aasahan nating hindi na nila babanggitin; pati sa kanilang isipan ay hindi nila iisipin ang aking pangalan, ang aking posisyon at ang aking lahat ng sinasabi,” Castro said.
She added that Duterte’s camp may consequently have fewer opportunities to respond to questions about her statements because they had said they were not paying attention to the briefings.
“So, most probably wala na rin kayong pagkakataon na itanong sa kanila kung ano ang aking sasabihin dahil hindi naman sila nakikinig,” Castro added.