Castro: Sara Duterte camp’s inattention leaves VP ‘clueless’

MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro on Thursday said the lack of attention from Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp may explain why the vice president appears “clueless” about the administration’s programs.

The remarks came after Duterte’s new spokesperson, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., said Castro was not a factor in his appointment and that he had no intention of going head-to-head with her over every statement, as he only needed to address serious criticisms. Panelo also described Castro as someone who is “hard to take seriously.”

READ: Sara Duterte camp: Hard to take Claire Castro seriously

Article continues after this advertisement

For Castro, however, Panelo’s remarks were an “admission” that the Duterte camp was not listening to what she was saying. 

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The Palace official stressed that the press briefings held almost every day with reporters not only answer their questions but also discuss government initiatives for the public.

“Ngayon natin nakitang may pag-amin na hindi sila nakikinig sa ating sinasabi kaya marahil ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang Bise Presidente ay nagmumukhang clueless, walang alam sa anong ginagawa ng administrasyon para sa ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.

(We now see an admission that they are not listening to what we are saying, which may be the reason why the Vice President appears clueless and unaware of what the administration is doing for our fellow Filipinos.)

The Palace official said it was the Duterte camp’s loss if they chose not to listen to her. Castro also said the camp regularly claims that the government is doing nothing, adding that she now knows why.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Walang panahon na makinig, walang panahon na manood at walang panahong pakinggan nang seryoso ang mga sinasabi especially dito sa briefing—malaking kawalan iyon; kawalan nila iyon, hindi natin kawalan iyon,” she said.

(They have no time to listen, no time to watch, and no time to seriously consider what is being said, especially here in the briefing—that is a great loss for them; it is their loss, not ours.)

Article continues after this advertisement

“At ang mensaheng ito ay hindi para sa mga taong ayaw makinig at ayaw seryosohin ang mga programa ng Pangulo. At aasahan natin ngayon mula sa Bise Presidente at sa kaniyang mga alagad na hindi nila babanggitin ang aking anumang sinasabi kahit na ang aking pangalan o ang aking posisyon aasahan nating hindi na nila babanggitin; pati sa kanilang isipan ay hindi nila iisipin ang aking pangalan, ang posisyon at ang aking lahat ng sinasabi,” she also said.

(And this message is not for people who refuse to listen and refuse to take the President’s programs seriously. We can now expect the Vice President and her allies not to mention anything I say, including my name or my position. We expect them not to mention me anymore—not even to think about my name, my position, or anything I say.)

When asked to comment on Panelo’s observation that he found it difficult to take her seriously, Castro left it to the public to judge what the spokesperson meant by the comments.

“Kayo mag-isip, may paggalang ba o walang paggalang? Nasa attitude, nasa character. Magandang salita pero sa kaila-ilaliman niyan mababasa ninyo kung ano ang nilalaman,” she said.

(You be the judge—was there respect or disrespect? It comes down to attitude and character. The words may sound good, but if you look beneath the surface, you can read what is really behind them.)

Is this serious?

Castro also dismissed Panelo’s remark that Duterte is ready to replace President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should the latter resign.

READ: Palace slams Marcos resignation push as ‘absolutely delusional’

“Normal at natural ito sa mga kaalyado at alagad ng Bise Presidente, pero kung kakayanin niya sa ngayon na pumalit kay Pangulong Marcos Jr., seryoso ba ito?” she further inquired.

(This may be normal and natural for the Vice President’s allies and followers, but if she were to take over from President Marcos Jr. now, would she really be serious about it?)

Castro just reiterated her Wednesday’s response to calls for Marcos to resign: “Kahapon ko pa po sinabi, iti s absolutely delusional.”