Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (L) and Vice President Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Friday told Vice President Sara Duterte to “stop being fake and pretending to be nice” after the latter denied having any desire to take President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s post.
In rebutting Duterte’s remarks, Castro recalled a speech the vice president delivered in the Netherlands last year, where she said that she and her supporters wanted Marcos removed from office.
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“She has long wanted the President removed from office, and she said so herself in a speech in the Netherlands on July 19, 2025, when she stated, ‘All of us want BBM removed from office,” she said.
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“She cannot deny having said it. Stop being fake and pretending to be nice.”
The Palace official also accused Duterte of pretending not to be involved in efforts to destabilize the administration, claiming that some of her allies were behind such moves.
“If she truly does not want it, she should be the one stopping her allies from sowing chaos,” she added.
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In an ambush interview in Davao City on Independence Day, Duterte said she had no desire to take over Marcos’ position and would rather let Filipinos see “until the very end” how “shameless” the president is.
Her remarks came after she was asked to comment on claims that retired military officers and other groups had urged her to lead a People Power movement against the Marcos administration.
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Castro also criticized Duterte for describing Marcos as “walang hiya” (shameless), saying the vice president herself lacked decorum.
The Palace official argued that the term was more fitting for someone who commits murder, hires an assassin to eliminate a rival, or spreads false information.
“When the Vice President is not reading from a script, she lacks decorum. Her true character comes out,” she said.
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With WH, it appears that the Vice President is describing her own family, she added. /dp
Read the full article at Philippine Daily Inquirer →
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