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Claire Castro and Sara Duterte. Revoli Cortez, PPA pool/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786077690073composites 2 (1) (20).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Claire Castro and Sara Duterte. <em>Revoli Cortez, PPA pool/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte starts to hurl personal insults and baseless accusations when she cannot answer the issues she is confronted with, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday, a day after the Philippines’ second-in-command urged the Palace Press Officer to be more professional.</div><p>“Ang tunay na professional ay nakikita sa gawa at hindi sa salita lamang,” Castro said in a recorded video sent to Palace reporters.</p><p>“Sumasagot lamang tayo sa walang basehang akusasyon sa Pangulo at sa administrasyon na may bitbit na ebidensya... Kapag hindi niya nasasagot ang aking mga nasasabi, magsisimula na siyang mamersonal at manira nang walang basehan. Hindi yan professional.&quot; Castro explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/castro-responds-to-sara-duterte-s-no-rift-remark-2129">Castro responds to Sara Duterte’s ‘no rift’ remark</a></div><p>Duterte earlier said that Castro should be more professional in carrying out her job as she represents the Office of the President, after the Palace official called the Vice President’s tirades against the Marcos administration and the International Criminal Court as “nonsense” and “baseless.”</p><p>Castro was referring to Duterte’s assertions in a Hague rally that labeled the ICC as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s puppet after the international tribunal ordered the arrest of her father former President Rodrigo Duterte over charges of crimes against humanity.</p><p>“Ang leader na professional ay nananatili sa bansa upang mamuno, lalong lalo na sa oras ng kalamidad, sumusunod sa batas at hindi gumagamit ng dahas at humaharap sa mga akusasyon gamit ang malinaw na ebidensya sa halip na pag iwas o paninira sa administrasyon, tumutulong sa pag-unlad at hindi nagiging dahilan ng pagbagsak ng pamahalaan,” Castro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/6/-sana-hindi-sila-mang-mang-malaca-ang-urges-petitioners-vs-pax-silica-to-be-better-informed-1642">Malacanang urges petitioners to be better informed on Pax Silica</a></div><p>Duterte — who campaigned alongside Marcos Jr. in the 2022 national elections — bolted from the administration in mid-2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><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/ME2t_aW6NWI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div> </div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte starts to hurl personal insults and baseless accusations when she cannot answer the issues she is confronted with, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Friday.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte starts to hurl personal insults and baseless accusations when she cannot answer the issues she is confronted with, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Friday.

Claire Castro responds after VP Sara accused her of being 'unprofessional'

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Claire Castro responds after VP Sara accused her of being 'unprofessional'

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 07, 2026 01:33 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Claire Castro

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