Marcos brands VP Duterte ‘buwaon’ over ‘desperation’ claim

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described Vice President Sara Duterte as a “buwaon”, or liar, over her claim that the administration is desperate to bring her down, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

At a briefing on Monday, Castro was asked to react to Duterte’s denial of allegations made by dismissed police corporal and former security aide Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed that he delivered suitcases containing more than P2 billion in cash to the Vice President, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.

READ: Marcos laughs off at Sara Duterte claim admin seeks to block 2028 polls

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In a statement on Friday, Duterte dismissed the allegations as “nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case.”

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“The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical,” she added.

But citing a recent phone conversation with Marcos, Castro said the President disputed his former UniTeam partner’s statements.

“Ito po mismo ang mensahe ng Pangulo patungkol sa komento na ‘yan ng Bise Presidente. Ang sabi po niya ‘yan po ay nonsense, fake news, may hilig magsinungaling, mga buwaon,” Castro said.

(This is the President’s exact message regarding the Vice President’s comment. He said that it was nonsense, fake news, and that she has a tendency to lie—that she is a liar.)

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“Buwaon” is a Waray word that translates to liar.

Asked why Marcos, who is usually tight-lipped when Duterte makes allegations against him, decided to respond this time, Castro said it was because the Vice President had repeatedly attacked and maligned the President.

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“Paulit-ulit po kasi. Paulit-ulit. Hindi tumitigil sa paninira kay Pangulo, sa paninira sa administrasyong ito na ang tanging ginagawa lamang ay magtrabaho,” Castro said.

(It’s because it keeps happening over and over again. It doesn’t stop. She keeps maligning the President and attacking this administration, which is only doing its job.)

“So hindi po pwedeng isabalewala nalang ang mga kasinungalingang ito na namumutawi sa isang obstructionist, sa isang destabilizer,” she added.

(So we cannot simply ignore these lies coming from an obstructionist, from a destablizer.)

Marcos laughs

In a brief media interview earlier in the day, Marcos laughed off Duterte’s specific allegation that the administration is trying to prevent the 2028 elections.

In Pasay City, reporters asked Marcos to comment on Duterte’s recent claim that the Marcos administration was seeking to stop the 2028 elections, describing the supposed move as “becoming increasingly diabolical.”

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Marcos did not comment. Instead, he briefly laughed before turning his back on the media. /jpv