DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte launched a harsh critique against Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, calling her “a shame to our country” following media queries about alleged cash deliveries involving her family.
Speaking to reporters in Davao City on Friday, September 25, Duterte initially refrained from directly addressing claims regarding ₱2 billion in supposed cash transfers, stating she had not seen the specific remarks.
“Hindi ko napanood yung sinabi niya, so hindi ako maka-comment,” Duterte said regarding Castro’s alleged statements.
However, the Vice President quickly redirected her response to criticize the Palace official personally.
“But coming from Claire Castro, alam naman natin na isa siyang kahihiyan sa ating bansa,” she declared.
Duterte further reiterated a past appeal she made to news outlets concerning coverage of the press officer.
“Sabi ko nga lagi, di ba, sa mga media, huwag ninyong bigyan ng espasyo yung mga ganyan kasi nagdadala ’yan ng shame sa ating bansa,” she added.
Beyond her comments on Castro, the Vice President addressed her pending legal battles, including impeachment proceedings, noting that she has entrusted these matters entirely to her defense team.
“Yung mga legal na problema ko tulad ng impeachment at iba’t ibang kaso, binigay ko na sa mga abogado na para asikasuhin nila,” Duterte noted, explaining that she remains focused on leading the Office of the Vice President.
Duterte’s appearance in Davao City coincided with events for National Peace Consciousness Month, which featured a writeshop aiming to create a peace-building module for nationwide implementation.