With Vice President Sara Duterte saying she regrets partnering with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and being part of the defunct Unity Team, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro hit back at the President’s number one critic, saying they, too, regret having her.

In a Palace briefing on Friday, 27 February 2026, Castro was asked by reporters how the Palace would react after Duterte said she could have continued her career as mayor of Davao rather than becoming Vice President.

“I support that. Mas maganda po nga sana kung nanatili na lamang siyang mayor sa Davao City at nahalal natin ang isang bise presidente na tutulong sana sa ating Pangulo. Isang bise presidente na magtatrabaho, mag-aaksiyon at hindi bakasyon at hindi puro paninira ang gagawin sa ating Pangulo,” Castro replied.

“Mas umunlad sana or mas uunlad pa, ha, maliban sa ginagawa ng Pangulo ngayon at kapag siya’y may katuwang para sa pag-unlad ng bansa, mas naging mainam sana. Pero sabi nga natin, nasa huli ang pagsisisi,” she stressed.

‘Drama queen’

Duterte also lamented that some groups that earlier invited her to speak at their gatherings have already canceled the invitation due to fear that the administration would retaliate against them.

Castro hit back and said the Vice President is known to be a “drama queen,” which was earlier said by her father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD).

“Mismo ang dating Pangulong Duterte ang nagsabi na may mga pagkakataon na ang Bise Presidente ay sinungaling. Ipapakita ko po ang isang article at binanggit din po niya na ang kaniyang anak na si VP Sara ay isang ‘drama queen.’ Dito pinasinungalingan niya mismo ang sinabi ng dating Mayor Sara Duterte. So, kailan pa ba natin paniniwalaan ang mga sinasabi ng Bise Presidente kung mismo ang kaniyang ama ay sinasabing siya ay nagsisinungaling?” Castro asked.

Castro referred to the pronouncement of PRRD in a campaign sortie in 2016 when he was still running for president, stating that he did not believe his daughter had been raped because she always carries a gun, describing Sara as a “drama queen.”

VP Duterte also praised the courage of the alleged 18 Marines who, in a recent press conference, said they delivered money to the residence of President Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at the orders of then-Representative Zaldy Co.

“Patungkol sa 18 na former Marines na ang apat doon ay hindi pala — doon pa lamang ay masasabi natin, ‘Oops, may nagsisinungaling!’ So, ang ibig bang sabihin nito ay nasa likod din ba ang Bise Presidente sa mga tinuturan nitong labing-walo na nakasama sa presscon na sinunod diumano ni Mike Defensor?” she wondered.