Vice President Sara Duterte should inform the public if she performs any official functions as the second-highest leader of the country during her overseas travels.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement in response to Duterte’s remarks suggesting that the Marcos administration lacked understanding regarding her recent foreign trips.

"Nakikita natin kung paano po sumagot bose presidente. Napakaemosyonal (We can see how the Vice President answers. Very emotional)," Castro told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday in Malacañang.

"May kasabihan po (there's this proverb: when emotions are high, intelligence is low. Never speak out of anger. Dahil maliwanag po sa ulat na personal trip ang ginawa po niya (It was clear in the reports that she had personal trips)," Castro stressed.

She continued. "At hindi kinu-kwestyon, ang sabi po natin noong nakaraan ay it her choice kung diyan po siya abala sa kanyang private or personal trips with her family (We are questioning that, what we are saying last time is that--it's her choice if she's busy on her private or personal trips with her family)."

Castro also lamented that Duterte failed to clarify whether her overseas trips involved any official functions.

"Magiging magkaiba po iyon kung ang sinabi niya kahit po isa sa inyo, sa media na personal trip, pero mayroon po pala siyang gagawing official functions. Kasi, magkakaroon po dito ng ethical and accountability concerns (It would have been a different case if she had informed even one member of the media that the trip was personal, but she actually perform official functions. That would raise ethical and accountability concerns)," she said.

Instead of being emotional, Castro said Duterte should have been honest in disclosing her whereabouts and activities during her trip to Australia.

"Sana ay naging tapat siya sa pagsasabi kung ano ba ang dahilan ng kanyang pagpunta sa Australia at hindi naman ito tutulan ng administrasyon (She should have been honest to talk about the reasons why she went to Australia and the administration won't go against it)," she said.

Castro emphasized that Duterte herself confirmed she had asked permission from the Office of the President, which was granted.

"At ginamit ng OVP Facebook, ito ay parte ng gobyerno, pero pang-personal trip. So, magkakaroon po talagang confusion, conflict of interest (She utilized the OVP Facebook, it is part of the government, but personal trip. So it would lead to confusion, conflict of interest)," Castro stressed. 

However, Castro noted that any delegates who accompanied the Vice President were funded by her office, not the Office of the President.

She stressed that Duterte, having admitted she worked in an official capacity during the trip, must now report to the public the names of her delegates and clarify whether all expenses were appropriately settled.

"At ngayon na inamin niya, sinabi niya na siya ay nagtatrabaho, bilang Vise Presidente, lumabas siya ng bansa, kailangan na po siyang mag-ulat sa bayan, ano ang ginawa niya sa Australia ano ang naging resulta ng kanyang official function  (Now that that she admitted that she went outside the country as Vice President, she needs to report to the people, what are the results of her travel to Australia)," she said.