MANILA – Malacañang has pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, challenging their statements on corruption and political loyalty.

On Tuesday, Malacañang responded to Vice President Duterte’s recent claim that corruption is the country’s real problem with a pointed rebuttal.

“Yes, she said that the real problem of the government is with regard to the corruption,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in an interview.

“Yes, that is also one of the problems—corruption. And we can see, based on the discoveries of the members of the House of Representatives, we can see allegedly fake or unsubstantiated receipts coming from the OVP regarding the confidential funds,” Castro added.

“So, VP Sara is really correct that we should deal with the issues of corruption, and we will start with the confidential funds that she spent,” Castro emphasized.

Her remarks come as tensions escalate between the Marcos and Duterte families, particularly after Mayor Baste Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of lacking gratitude for allowing the burial of his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Speaking before a crowd that erupted into chants of “Marcos resign,” Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of betrayal.

“’Yung tatay ko pinalibing ‘yung tatay mo, pero ‘yung tatay ko pinakulong mo, p* ka!” he said, recalling how his father approved the burial of Marcos Jr.’s father at the heroe’s cemetery.

The younger Duterte also vowed that his family and their supporters would resist what they claim to be the unlawful arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He warned that the Marcos administration would never gain the loyalty of Duterte’s political base, further intensifying the political friction between the two influential families.

The Palace Press Officer countered the claim, pointing out that Marcos Jr. had already expressed his gratitude in 2016.

“As early as 2016, dati pa pong senador ang pangulo ngayon, nagpasalamat na po ang pangulo sa Supreme Court na nagbigay ng desisyon na dapat ilibing ang kanyang ama sa Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Castro said in a press briefing.

She further emphasized that following the law takes precedence over personal debts of gratitude.

“Noon pa po sila nagpasalamat at sinabi nga nila forever silang tatanaw ng utang na loob sa napakagandang gesture ng dating Pangulong Duterte. Pero ang pagtanaw po ng utang na loob ay hindi dapat madiskaril at hindi dapat magtraydor sa batas at sa hustisya,” Castro said.

Turning the tables on the Dutertes, Castro also questioned the former president’s appointment of Chinese national Michael Yang as economic adviser.

“Hindi ba ito pagtanaw ng utang na loob?” Castro pointedly asked.

Regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Castro emphasized that the government’s actions are guided by legal obligations.

“Ang pagpapaaresto naman po o pagsu-surrender kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC ay mayroon din pong kaugnayan na batas at mayroon po tayong sinusunod na commitment para sa Interpol,” Castro said.

Castro also reiterated that personal debts of gratitude, friendships, or past alliances should not be a reason to undermine the law and the Constitution.

“Ngayon, hindi po dapat mahinto ng utang na loob ang pagpapatupad ng batas. Hindi po dapat traydorin katulad ng aking sinabi ang pagpapatupad ng batas, ang pagpapatupad ng commitment with the Interpol. Hindi po dapat na dahil lang kaibigan o dahil naging kasama ay hindi na po tutuparin ang batas at tatraydorin na po ang Konstitusyon dahil lamang sa utang na loob,” she stressed.

📷 PCO