Malacañang on Friday slammed Vice President Sara Duterte for spreading misinformation and disinformation about the supposed depletion of government funds.
Speaking to reporters in Cebu, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro challenged Duterte to show proof to support her claims.
“Sige hingin niyo muna yung ebidensya sa kanya at tsaka ko sasagutin pag may ebidensya na siya. Puro (Ask her first for evidence and I will respond once she has proof. It’s all) misinformation and disinformation,” she said.
Castro made the remarks after Duterte claimed that the government is running out of funds.
Duterte also criticized the current administration over the rising national debt and unemployment, attributing the issues to a lack of focus on governance.
Castro defended the administration’s economic policies, stressing that government borrowing is normal to support public services and projects.
She added that the Marcos administration inherited a large debt burden from the past administration led by Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Ngayon, kung meron tayong mga pagkakautang, ito ay normal naman sa ibang bansa para maibigay na tulong sa ating mga kababayan. At tandaan po natin, lumaki po ang utang hindi po sa panahon ngayon lamang (If we have debts, that is normal among countries in order to provide assistance to our fellow Filipinos. And let us remember that the debt did not increase only during the present administration),” Castro said.
“Lumaki ang utang dahil namana po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang napakalaking utang na nakuha ni dating pangulong Duterte at ito ay napabayaan di umano dahil sa pang-aabuso sa Pharmally at mga ghost projects noon ng Build, Build, Build (The debt increased because President Marcos Jr. inherited the huge debt incurred during the administration of former president Duterte, which was allegedly aggravated by abuses involving Pharmally and ghost projects under the Build, Build, Build program),” she added.
Castro also defended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. against Duterte’s allegations that the Chief Executive was not working.
She cited Marcos’ recent engagements, including the nationwide rollout of expanded government aid program and his continued monitoring of the situation in Albay amid Mayon Volcano’s unrest.
She said Marcos is currently hosting the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings, while Duterte is busy traveling in European and Asian countries.
“Nakita niyo po kung gaano po magtrabaho ang Pangulo. Ngayon po nandito siya, abalang-abala sa ASEAN Summit. Ang mga concerned agencies at departments ng Ehekutibo ay nandito para magtabaho. Samantalang ang Bise Presidente nandoon po sa ibang bansa at nagbabakasyon (You can see how hard the President works. Right now, he is here very busy with the ASEAN Summit. The concerned agencies and departments of the Executive are here to work, while the Vice President is in another country on vacation),” Castro said.
She also took a swipe at Duterte’s recent admission that she is not adept at using computers, saying this raised concerns about her leadership capability.
“Kaya nga sabi natin mas maganda mag-aral muna siya mag-computer para alam naman niya yung mga katotohanan. Nakakalungkot po (That is why we said it would be better for her to first learn how to use a computer so she would know the facts. It is unfortunate),” she said.
Respond To Impeach Charges
At the House of Representatives, Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Jay Khonghun of Zambales urged the Vice President to just answer the impeachment complaint filed against her instead of shifting the focus to other “baseless” issues.
In a statement, Ortega said Duterte’s claim that lawmakers were “making money” off her name is a tired diversion from the overwhelming evidence cited in the Articles of Impeachment, now drawing majority support in the House.
“Gasgas at lumang tugtugin na ’yan. Kapag hinihingan ng sagot sa ebidensiya, ang balik agad ay paratang na may kumikita, may pera sa bulsa, may maleta. Sagutin na lang niya ang Articles of Impeachment dahil doon nakasulat ang mga tanong na kailangan niyang harapin (That’s an overplayed old tune. Whenever she is asked to respond to evidence, she would immediately allege that somebody is making money out of it, there’s money in pockets, in suitcases. Just let her answer the Articles of Impeachment where the charges are enumerated),” Ortega said.
Ortega issued the statement in response to Duterte’s remark after reports that more than 200 lawmakers were expected to sign the impeachment complaint against her, saying: “Madami ang pumipera gamit ang pangalan ko. Sana maambunan ang mga constituents nila ng mga pera sa kanilang bulsa o maleta (Many are making money out of my name. Hopefully, their constituents would also get a share from the money in their pockets or suitcases).”
He said Duterte’s statement followed a familiar pattern of attacking motives instead of answering allegations involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery, grave threats and other issues raised in the impeachment proceedings.
Ortega said the public has already moved beyond the stage of political spin and now wants the Senate trial to proceed so Duterte can answer the allegations in the proper forum.
He rejected Duterte’s insinuation that lawmakers were motivated by money, saying such a claim unfairly insults legislators who studied the Articles of Impeachment and responded to the public demand for accountability.
In a separate statement, Khonghun also urged Duterte to directly address the allegations in the impeachment case and not shift the focus away from the evidence presented before Congress.
He said Duterte is free to defend herself and raise issues against her political rivals, but said that these should not take the place of a clear response to the findings cited in the impeachment proceedings.
Khonghun issued the statement after the Vice President, in an ambush interview in The Hague, challenged former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co to “tell the truth” if they were truly interested in justice over the flood control projects controversy.
He said any investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects should be handled by the proper agencies and institutions, while the impeachment case should proceed under the constitutional process.
He said the public now wants clear explanations on the issues enumerated in the Articles of Impeachment. (with reports of Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA)