Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Vice President Sara Duterte addresses the media at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on November 26, 2024, regarding her remarks about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte clarified that her comments, made during a virtual press conference, were not intended as threats but as expressions of concern for her safety.  The National Bureau of Investigation has issued and served a subpoena asking the vice president to appear at the NBI office and explain her tirades on Friday. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Sara Duterte-presscon-VMMC

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175067349802220241126-vpsd-presson-MT-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte addresses the media at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on November 26, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Monday fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte after she criticized the Marcos administration on the national debt ballooning to P16.6 trillion at the end of February 2025, among other issues. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/1/philippine-debt-rises-to-p16-63-trillion-in-feb-1538">Philippine debt rises to P16.63 trillion in Feb</a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro responded to Duterte&#x27;s question on what supposedly happened to the P16 trillion.</p><p>&quot;May kasabihan nga tayo, ang hindi marunong tumingan sa pinanggalingan ay hindi talaga malalaman ang katotohanan,&quot; Castro said at a press briefing.</p><p>She clarified that the P16 trillion the Vice President was referring to is the total debt of the government, accumulated from past administrations, including her father&#x27;s.</p><p>&quot;At tatandaan din natin, ang administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Duterte ang naitalang may pinakamataas na naging utang na umabot ng P12.79 trillion as of June 2022. At solong utang po ng administrasyong Duterte ay umaabot ng P6.84 trillion as of June 2022. At nagkaroon ng increase ng 115.1 percent sa pagkaka-utang,&quot; Castro added. </p><p>The Palace Press Officer also questioned why the Vice President does not recognize the programs of the Marcos administration.</p><p>Castro cited the expanded Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefit packages, P20/kilo rice program, and the upcoming fuel subsidy program.</p><p>&quot;Nakakalungkot po. Mahirap po talaga. Mahirap turuan ang walang alam at walang balak umalam. Mahirap buksan ang mata ng bulag at nagbubulag-bulagan,&quot; Castro added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REGRETS ON UNITEAM IN 2022</strong></div><p>Castro also addressed Duterte&#x27;s remark about regretting her team up with Marcos for the 2022 polls.</p><p>&quot;Ulit-ulit ang kanyang issue. Wala na ho yatang bago. Dati na ho niyang sinabi yang nagsisisi siya,&quot; she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/23/sara-duterte-says-no-ill-feelings-toward-marcos-jr-but-has-problems-with-his-performance-0856">Sara Duterte says &#x27;no ill feelings&#x27; toward Marcos Jr. but has problems with his performance</a></div><p>When asked if the President has the same sentiments on Duterte, Castro said she has not heard anything from Marcos.</p><p>&quot;Sa ugali po ng Pangulo, hindi po natin madidinig ang ganung klaseng negatibo mula sa kanya. Wala tayong aasahan na kung anong paninira kanino man. Yan po ang pangulo. Kung may magsisisi man na sa kanya maka-team up siya, it&#x27;s their loss not the President&#x27;s,&quot; Castro said. </p><p>The Palace Press Officer likewise responded to Duterte describing the President&#x27;s moves as a &quot;scam.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Budol? Talaga? Hindi ko alam sino ba ang nangbudol. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nangbubudol. Sa nakikita po natin na pag-tatrabaho ng Pangulo, sa pag-uutos sa amin na focus sa trabaho at hindi pamumulitika, sino ba talaga ang nangbubudol?&quot; Castro said.</p><p>Under the Uniteam banner, Marcos and Duterte ran together and won the two highest positions in the country.   </p><p>But the alliance had a falling out last year, somewhat solidifying when Duterte stepped down from her post as Department of Education Secretary in June.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPN5Z4eE-jo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang on Monday fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte after she criticized the Marcos administration on the national debt ballooning to P16.6 trillion at the end of February 2025, among other issues.</p>

Malacañang on Monday fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte after she criticized the Marcos administration on the national debt ballooning to P16.6 trillion at the end of February 2025, among other issues.

Palace fires back at VP Duterte's tirades on nat'l debt, Uniteam 'regrets'

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Palace fires back at VP Duterte's tirades on nat'l debt, Uniteam 'regrets'

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 23, 2025 06:43 PM PHT

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