Palace hits VP Duterte’s claims: ‘Self-serving lies to discredit PBBM’

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

Castro countered that Duterte’s track record at DepEd “speaks for itself,” pointing to her admission that she lacked expertise in developing the flagship Matatag curriculum. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday accused Vice President Sara Duterte of weaving “self-serving lies” against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., saying her recent statements abroad were part of a “selfish ambition” to bring down the Chief Executive and take his place in the seat of power.

“Lahat ng kwento niya ay para siraan ang Pangulo dahil nais niyang pababain ito sa pwesto at siya ang maging pangulo. Makasariling hangarin (All her stories are to malign the President because she wants him ousted so she can become president. Purely selfish motives),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement.

The Palace hit back after Duterte, in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, claimed that Marcos tried to stop her resignation as Education Secretary in June 2024 and even offered her another government post.

She also alleged that the President smelled of alcohol during their meeting in Malacañang, a claim the Palace dismissed as baseless and malicious.

Duterte made the claim after Castro branded her leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) as a “complete failure.” The Vice President led the education department from June 2022 to June 2024.

Castro countered that Duterte’s track record at DepEd “speaks for itself,” pointing to her admission that she lacked expertise in developing the flagship Matatag curriculum.

“Records will speak for themselves. She admitted in one of her speaking engagements that she has no expertise in formulating the Matatag curriculum… Hindi daw niya ma review ang Matatag curriculum dahil wala siyang alam rito. Ang alam niya lang daw gawin ay magpukpok ng tao para magtrabaho (She admitted she could not review the Matatag curriculum because she knew nothing about it. She said the only thing she knew was to pound on people to work),” Castro said.

She added that Duterte left unresolved issues in DepEd, including some 1.5 million laptops, tablets, and other learning materials that were not distributed to students until new DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara took office.

Castro also cited the supposed PHP100 million lost to fake student vouchers during Duterte’s watch.

“Napakinabangan na sana ng marami pero binalewala lang. Buti na lang at isinaayos na ito ni Secretary Angara… Buti na rin lang at nadiskubre kaagad ni Sec. Angara ito (Many students could have benefited, but these were left idle. Fortunately, Secretary Angara fixed this… It was also fortunate that he uncovered the fake voucher scam right away),” she said.

The Palace official also took a swipe at Duterte’s credibility, citing her role in spreading “fake news,” including her claims on a supposed altered Beverly Hills police report and a viral “polvoron video” that turned out to be fabricated.

“Walang katotohanan ang mga kwento niyang ito laban kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. Madali sa kanilang gumawa ng kwento at propaganda lalo pa at inamin ng dating Pangulong Duterte na expert siya sa pagplanta ng ebidensya at paggawa ng intriga (Her stories against President Marcos Jr. are baseless. They easily invent tales and propaganda, especially since former president Duterte himself admitted he is an expert in planting evidence and intrigue),” she said.

In a pointed comparison, Castro praised Marcos for his work ethic, saying he is “not like others” who arrive late at official functions.

“Nakita na natin magtrabaho ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. na maagang gumigising para sa mga events at sa mga meetings… Hindi siya tulad ng iba na 4:53 p.m. darating sa venue para sa SONA kahit na 4 p.m. dapat ang SONA (We have seen President Marcos Jr. wake up early for events and meetings… He is not like others who arrive at the SONA venue at 4:53 p.m. even if it was scheduled at 4 p.m.),” she said, in a thinly veiled jab at former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was known for his tardiness during his presidency.