MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday, September 26, called on Vice President Sara Duterte to bolster her legal defense by presenting factual evidence rather than resorting to diversionary rhetoric.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the remark following statements from Duterte, who accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration of growing “desperate” and “increasingly diabolical” in an alleged effort to undermine her, push charter change, stop the 2028 elections, and retain power.
“Uulit-ulitin natin para tumimo sa isipan. She needs to level up her defending skills so she can appear credible, if only for once,” Castro said.
Duterte’s claims came as she dismissed allegations linking her to cash receipts from Police Corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.—the former security chief for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco—categorizing the charges as “political maneuvering, propaganda, (and) manufactured distractions” aimed at rescuing a weak impeachment proceedings.
“She should learn the definitions of red herring and ad hominem fallacies so she can recognize her mistakes in arguing,” Castro added, asserting that Duterte must substantiate her claims with concrete proof before advising others.
Castro further reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional jurisdiction over the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
“This will be the real scenario. Our Constitution will be rendered futile if the Filipino people begin to defend acts of corruption of their nefarious political idols, or if they normalize the unlawful execution of innocent people under the guise of ‘dispensing justice,’” she emphasized.