Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Castro gives Valentine’s Day message for Sara Duterte: ‘Spread love, not fake news, immorality’

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro gave Vice President Sara Duterte a message ahead of Valentine’s Day as they locked horns over their recent statements.</p><p>“At ang aking message, Valentine message sa kanya, VP Sara, spread love, not fake news, not immorality. Don&#x27;t be a chucky,” she said in a press briefing Friday, February 13.</p><p>Before this, Castro lambasted Duterte’s statements in her recent interviews including when the vice president said that she believes Marcos committed impeachable offense when he signed the national budget. </p><p>“Para sa akin, personal ko na opinion. Ako, diba, ang nagsabi pinakauna na impeachable offense ‘yung pagpirma ng budget na alam mong galing siya sa bill na may mga blangko at merong mga insertions. At syempre, impeachable offense din ‘yung humihindi ang isang opisyal kapag merong nagtatanong ng competency niya na mamuno at may nagsasabi na gumagamit siya ng illegal na droga,” Duterte said in an interview in Davao City Thursday, February 12. </p><p>“Unahin niya po muna iyong mga kaso niya bago niya tingnan ang kaso ng iba…  Unahin niya po ang sarili niya at siguro mas maganda itanong niya iyan sa kaniyang ama,” Castro responded.</p><div><strong>‘EMOTIONAL VULTURE’</strong></div><p>Duterte in the same interview also expressed concerns about the country’s current state when asked about her plans for 2028.</p><p>“Ang tanong, meron pa bang bayan? Meron pa bang Pilipinas na pag-uusapan sa taong 2028? Lubog na tayo sa basura, sa baha, sa lahat ng economic indicators, kahit sa korupsyon, lubog na tayo. Walang nangyayaring maayos na trabaho ang gobyerno. Walang mga masabi nating mga development projects. Wala lahat ‘yan,” she said.</p><p>“So ‘yun ‘yung ikinakatakot ko na baka isang araw magising na lang tayo, wala nang maayos na gobyerno, magulo na ang bayan. Assuming na meron pa tayong bansa sa 2028,” Duterte added. </p><p>In response, Castro called Duterte &quot;blind&quot; for not seeing the work of Marcos and his administration. </p><p>“Unang-una, masasabi natin ang Bise President ay bulag, hindi niya nakikita kung ano ang ginagawa ng Pangulo. Kanina lamang po ay kababanggit natin kung ano ang magandang proyekto ng Pangulo patungkol sa ating transportasyon, patungkol sa ating edukasyon,” Castro argued. </p><p>“Nananatili siyang bulag dahil malamang ay hindi niya pinanunood or ayaw niyang panoorin kung ano ang nagaganap na katotohanan sa mga ginagawa ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon ngayon,” she said. </p><p>“Nakakalungkot lamang dahil iyan ay galawang Duterte, showing the characteristics of an emotional vulture, isang buwitre – nagpapanggap na concern sa kalagayan ng bansa when in fact she admitted that she doesn’t want to help the President in his projects for the country. Drama pero walang gawa,” Castro stated.</p><div><strong>‘MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE’</strong></div><p>Castro said Duterte’s statement that there might be no more Philippines in 2028 would only happen if the country elects a &quot;Manchurian candidate&quot; as leader in the 2028 elections.</p><p>A Manchurian candidate refers to a person who is not loyal to, or who harms, their own country or political party because they are under the control or influence of another country or party, according to the Cambridge dictionary.  </p><p>“Kung ang kaniyang hula ay magkakatotoo, malamang mangyayari iyan kung ang isang lider na ibuboto sa 2028 ay isang Manchurian candidate, isang puppet ng isang bansa kung saan maaaring ipamigay ang ating yaman, ang ating karapatan sa ibang bansa,” the Palace official said. </p><p>“Mayroon po na naging tugon dati ang dating Pangulong Duterte na maaari tayo or gawin tayong probinsiya ng isang bansa, so kung isang Manchurian candidate ang ating ibuboto, baka nga maging probinsiya tayo ng isang bansa. Huwag naman po sana,” she added. </p><div><strong>‘SHAME’ TO PH </strong></div><p>Duterte also criticized Castro for calling her earlier statement that she is no longer talking to senators because those who talk or help her are allegedly being targeted by the administration a lie and that she should &quot;tell it to the Marines&quot;.</p><p>“Sinasabi ko na nga paulit-ulit na si Claire Castro, nagdadala yan ng kahihiyan sa ating bayan dahil tinawag siya na spokesperson ng Office of the President. At syempre, kapag ganoon yung nagsasalita ang Office of the President, nakikinig ang buong mundo, hindi lang ‘yung mga kababayan natin,” the vice president said.  </p><p>Castro responded calling Duterte a source of fake news then showed a printed screenshot of an international media outlet NBC article about Duterte’s alleged slay threat to Marcos in 2024. </p><p>“Mas nakakahiya po ito. At muli, kung ganito rin lang ang ating magiging leader, mag-isip-isip po tayo,” she said. </p><p>Castro also responded to an alleged statement of Duterte where she supposedly said that Marcos and Castro should be together.</p><p>“So, ganito po bang lider tulad ni VP Sara ang dapat nating hangaan at dapat nating ilagay sa pedestal. Ang anumang salitang nanggagaling sa kanya ay puro paninira, puro insinuation, puro ka-imoralidad,” she said. </p><p>“Ang Pangulo po ay mayroong pamilya, mapagmahal na asawa, mabuting ama at ako rin po ay may pamilya. So sa isang tulad si Bise Presidente, na magsasalita ng ganito, ito po ay napakababa bilang babae,” Castro stated.</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div>  </div>

<p>Castro said Duterte’s statement that there might be no more Philippines in 2028 would only happen if the country elects a "Manchurian candidate" as leader in the 2028 elections.</p>

Castro said Duterte’s statement that there might be no more Philippines in 2028 would only happen if the country elects a "Manchurian candidate" as leader in the 2028 elections.

Castro has Valentine’s Day message for Sara Duterte: ‘Spread love, not fake news, immorality’

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Castro has Valentine’s Day message for Sara Duterte: ‘Spread love, not fake news, immorality’

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 13, 2026 05:02 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 13, 2026 05:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

Claire Castro

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sara Duterte

ABSnews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.