Malacañang on Wednesday wished Vice President Sara Duterte good luck following her pronouncement that she will run for President in the May 2028 polls.
However, Palace press officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro also raised the controversies hounding Duterte after the Vice President asked forgiveness from the Filipino people over the alleged shortcomings of the present administration.
“The President heard the announcement, and he said ‘Good Luck’ and he also heard ang mga sinabi na pinagsisisihan at humihingi ng kapatawaran itong sa Bise Presidente,” Castro told reporters during a media briefing.
In her press conference earlier Wednesday, Duterte said that in the first months of their term, she saw dishonesty in the promises made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the campaign.
She also asked forgiveness from Filipinos for helping Marcos win the presidency in 2022.
“Tandaan po natin, ang taumbayan ang naghalal kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. Kung anuman po ang natulong niya, pareho naman po silang nagtulungan dahil ito ay UniTeam kaya huwag niya pong solohin ang credit kung nanalo man ang Pangulo. At nakikita ngayon ng kababayan natin kung sino ba ang nagtatrabaho – isang working president, compared sa Bise Presidente,” Castro said in response to Duterte’s remarks.
Duterte earlier said she could not endure being part of the 2025 budget, which she described as riddled with anomalies and corruption, prompting her to leave the Cabinet as Education secretary.
She also said she knew as early as 2023 that her alienation from the administration could lead to the filing of an impeachment complaint against her.
“Pinag-uusapan po ba ang korapsiyon/ang katiwalian? Siguro po dapat mauna muna na ihingi niya ng tawad kung anuman ang mga isyu ng korapsiyon at katiwalian at diumanong paglulustay ng confidential funds ng kaniyang dalawang opisina at that time – OVP at ng DepEd,” Castro said.
“Kung mayroon pang napipintong impeachment, ito po ay dahil sa kaniyang kagagawan mismo. Kung wala naman siyang ginawa na mga maanomalya at labag sa konstitusyon, hindi naman po siguro siya masasampahan ng mga impeachment complaint,” Castro stressed.