No problem with Marcos? Palace says VP Sara's remark shows she was not mistreated

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro on Friday reacted to the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she had no problem with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. as a person, saying that this only showed that she was never mistreated by the chief executive.

“Nagpapatunay ito, sa kanya na galing mismo, na ang Pangulo ay hindi nagkaroon ng masamang pagtrato sa kanya bilang tao at bilang Bise Presidente,” Castro said in a video message.

(She said it herself. This proves that the President has not treated her badly as a person and as a Vice President.)

She also said that it is the allies of Duterte who are causing “disorder” in the country, citing the supposed threats of the Vice President against Marcos and his family.

“Sa totoo nga, kahit hindi siya nagtatrabaho at lagi siyang nasa ibang bansa, wala tayong madidinig kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. Pero bakit pinersonal ng Bise Presidente ‘yung galit niya? Kailangan kumausap pa siya ng taong willing na gumawa ng kanyang utos na ipapatay ang Pangulong Marcos Jr., si First Lady, at ang dating House Speaker Romualdez,” Castro said.

(In fact, even though she is not working and is always abroad, we didn’t hear anything from President Marcos Jr. But why did the Vice President make this personal? She even asked someone willing to carry out an order to kill President Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Romualdez.)

“Pinapalabas niya na walang kakayahan daw mamuno at ang bansa ay in chaos. Sa totoo lang, sino ba ang gumagawa ng kaguluhan? Sino ba ‘yung nagbabalak ng destabilization? Hindi ba ang grupo nila? Dahil gusto nilang makuha ‘yung posisyon mula kay Pangulo?”

(She is showing that the President is incapable of leading and that the country is in chaos. But in reality, who is really causing the chaos? Who is planning destabilization? Isn’t it their group? Because they want to take the position from the President?)

Duterte, in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, admitted she had no personal issues with Marcos, but said her only problem was with his presidency.

The Vice President also said that whatever comment she has with Marcos’ administration and with the government right now is her right to freedom of speech.

Castro, in response, said that every Filipino has a right to speak, but it should not be fake news.

“Sasabihin niya na karapatan niya magsalita bilang ordinaryong citizen ng bansa? Malaya ang bawat Pilipino na magsalita. Pero hindi dapat mga fake news. Hindi dapat panloloko sa katotohanan,” she said.

(She is saying that she has the right to speak as an ordinary citizen of the country? Every Filipino is free to speak. But it should not be fake news. It should not be a deception of the truth.) –NB, GMA News