Malacañang has fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte, characterizing her recent criticisms regarding the Senate leadership dispute as “repeated lies” and a calculated effort to distort the political landscape.
The rift widened after the Vice President claimed on June 10 that the ongoing instability within the Senate reflects the “weak” leadership of the administration.
Responding to the remarks during a press briefing on Thursday, June 11, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro counter-argued that the President remains fully focused on national governance while the Vice President chooses to engage in personal political attacks.
”Ang paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan ay naglalagay sa atin sa isang kumunoy,” Castro stated, emphasizing that the executive branch had no hand in the volatile developments within the upper chamber.
Castro clarified that the administration did not orchestrate the recent leadership transition from Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, nor was it involved in the reported shooting incident and the controversial exit of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Instead, the Palace official asserted that these events are part of a coordinated strategy by Duterte’s own faction to insulate her from an active impeachment process.
”Inamin din naman ni Senator Bato dela Rosa kung bakit pinilit na siya ay pumunta at bumoto – una, to change the leadership; pangalawa, for the impeachment. So, ang mga tao sa likod nito… sila iyong nagsasabing dapat na ibasura ang impeachment, ito ay lahat para sa proteksiyon ng Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
Addressing the reported assistance extended to Senator dela Rosa during his controversial departure, which allegedly involved Senator Robin Padilla, Castro pointed out that both lawmakers are loyal allies of the Vice President rather than the Chief Executive.
”Ang pagpapalabas, pagpapatakas kay Senator Bato dela Rosa sa tulong ni Senator Robin Padilla, hindi ito nanggagaling sa Pangulo; ang dalawang sinabi nating senador ay kaalyado ng Bise Presidente,” she explained.
Concluding her remarks, the Palace official urged the public to scrutinize the Vice President’s rhetoric, maintaining that the legislative turmoil stems from political maneuvering for self-preservation rather than a failure of presidential leadership.
”So, hindi totoo na patungkol daw sa kahinaan ng liderato sa administrasyon kung hindi ito ay sa patuloy na pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan para lamang sa kanilang mga kaalyado. So, huwag sanang mamihasa sa pagdudungis ng iba para magmukhang biktima sa ating mga mata,” Castro stressed.