Malacañang has categorically accused Vice President Sara Duterte of weaving “self-serving lies” against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to discredit and topple down the Chief Executive, so she can she can take his seat of power.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a statement, said “all of Duterte’s malicious narratives are aimed to malign the President’ so she can take over become president.’
“Purely selfish motives),” Castro hit back.
In an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte 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, malicious and stupid.
Duterte made the claim after Castro branded her leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) where she served as Secretary for two years, was a “complete failure.” Her DepEd performance “speaks for itself,” she added and pointed that the vice president even admitted “she lacked the expertise needed in developing the flagship ‘Matatag’ education curriculum.”
“Records speak for themselves. She admitted in one of her speaking engagements that she could not even review the ‘Matatag’ curriculum because she knew nothing about it, and the only thing she knows is to pound on people to work)” the Palace spokesperson said.
Castro 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. She also cited the supposed PHP100 million lost to fake student vouchers during Duterte’s watch.
“Many students could have benefited, but these were left idle. Fortunately, Secretary Angara fixed the problem. It was also fortunate that he uncovered the fake voucher scam right away),” she added and 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.
Castro said Duterte’s narratives against President Marcos Jr. are baseless. She and her gang easily invent tales and propaganda, which also fits the skills of former President Duterte himself who “admitted he is an expert in planting evidence and intrigue,” she said.