Malacañang has sharply criticized Vice President Sara Duterte after she publicly questioned the certainty of the 2028 presidential elections, advising her to review the Constitution for answers to her own statements.
Speaking to reporters in The Hague, Netherlands, the Vice President remarked that “we can only pray that there will be a presidential election in 2028,” while expressing hope that the political exercise would be clean, peaceful, and structured.
During a Palace press briefing, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed the Vice President’s assertions as baseless political maneuverings.
”So, ang mga ganitong sagot mula kay Bise Presidente ay alam natin intriga lamang, mga kuwentong walang basehan at sana ma-review niya ulit, bilang abogado kung ano ba ang nilalaman ng Konstitusyon para masagot na niya rin ang sarili niyang salita,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
”Kitang-kita ninyo naman na habang sumasagot ang Bise Presidente ay nangingiti siya. Siguro kahit siya ay natatawa sa kaniyang sariling sagot,” Castro added.
The Palace official further commented that Duterte appeared noticeably eager to shift public focus toward the upcoming national elections.
”Unang-una po nakikita rin natin ang kasabikan ng Bise Presidente na pag-usapan ang halalan sa 2028, samantalang ang Pangulo ay abala sa pag-aayos ng anumang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East,” Castro said.
Duterte has already emerged as a presumptive candidate for the country’s highest office following her earlier declaration of intent to run.
Taking another jab at the Vice President’s legal background, the Malacañang press officer labeled her as highly skilled in political engineering.
”At ang Bise Presidente naman ay isang abogado, parang ito ba ay like father, like daughter, alam naman natin na umamin ang dating Pangulong Duterte na siya ay eksperto sa paggawa ng intriga at pagplanta ng ebidensiya,” Castro said.