Malacañang issued a sharp rebuke against Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, labeling her recent allegations of a presidential power-grab as baseless attempts to sow political discord.
The verbal exchange follows the Vice President’s claims that the Marcos administration is leveraging International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations and potential Charter Change to ensure President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains in office beyond his term.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro did not hold back in her response, urging for a focus on governance over gossip.
“Ang kailangan natin ay isang public servant na nagseserbisyo sa bayan at taumbayan at hindi yung ang alam lang ay gumawa ng intriga at fake news. Mas nakakahiya sa ngayon ang magkomento pa sa mga walang basehan at walang sustansyang pahayag ni VP Sara Duterte.”
The Vice President had earlier sounded the alarm for her allies, including former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, suggesting they are the targets of a coordinated legal offensive.
Linking these legal woes to a recent Bloomberg interview by the President, she warned that Constitutional amendments are merely a vehicle for term extension.
“Pag pinag-usapan natin ang charter change, ibig sabihin ‘yan, hindi na yan bababa sa pwesto si BBM. At ’yan din ang sinabi ni President Duterte kanina. Sabi niya, Pilipinas mag-ingat kayo kasi hindi na yan aalis sa pwesto niya.”
This friction intensifies as the ICC probe gains significant traction following the confirmation of an arrest warrant for Senator Dela Rosa. The tribunal identifies the former police chief as a key figure in at least 32 drug-war killings characterized as crimes against humanity.
Despite the Vice President’s assertions, the Palace maintains that the executive branch has no hand in the independent proceedings of the ICC or the unsealing of warrants against the former administration’s officials.