Palace exec: Words 'inciting hatred' to gov't shouldn't come from VP

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday said remarks of anger or hatred against the government should not come from the country's second highest official.

Castro was asked at a Palace briefing regarding the recent remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte during a rally in Cebu, who said Filipinos have the right to show their anger so public servants would be informed about what they want.

''Unang-una nakakalungkot po na mula sa pangalawang pinakamataas na lider ng bansa ay mukha pang nag-eencourage siya sa mga tao na magalit sa gobyerno," Castro said.

(First, it is disappointing that these words came from the second highest official of the country, and it seems she's encouraging the public to be angry with the government.)

"Noong nalaman po ito ng Pangulo ay wala po siyang naging reaksyon dito dahil hindi nga po ito dapat nanggagaling sa pangalawang pinakamataas na lider ng bansa,'' she added.

(When the President learned about this, he had no reaction because this kind of remark shouldn't come from the second top official of the country.)

Castro said it would be better if Duterte will encourage the public to cooperate with the government instead of having ill feelings towards the administration.

"Mas maganda po sana kung siya ay mag-eencourage sa mga tao na makipagtulungan lang instead of having this feeling of hatred against the government," said Castro.

(It would be better if she would encourage the public to cooperate instead of having this feeling of hatred against the government.)

Mas maganda po na sabay-sabay tayo umangat kaysa sa may ibang tao na gusto magpabagsak ng gobyerno,'' Castro said. 

(It will be better if we all improve our lives instead of bringing down the government.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Duterte for comment on Castro's remarks, but she has yet to reply as of posting time.

Duterte, who has been impeached by the House of Representatives, had said Filipinos deserve better as she criticized the government over its supposed lack of action to address issues in health, security, infrastructure, and foreign interference.