Word War Escalates Between VP Sara Duterte and Malacañang Amid 2028 Tensions
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MANILA, Philippines — The war of words between Vice President Sara Duterte and Malacañang continues to intensify, with no signs of cooling down as political tensions rise ahead of the 2028 elections.
On Friday, Vice President Duterte defended her recent controversial remark, where she labeled the Marcos administration as “bobo”. According to Duterte, her statement was not made out of anger, but was simply “a statement of fact.”
“You saw me. I wasn’t emotional. I haven’t reached that point,” Duterte said during a press briefing in Davao City following the oath-taking of local officials. “But truly, the brain cells of those speaking for this administration are lacking.”
This sharp remark comes in response to Palace spokesperson Atty. Clarissa Castro, who previously slammed Duterte for her comment, citing a quote often used in political circles: “When emotions are high, intelligence is low.” Castro criticized Duterte for what she claimed were emotional and irresponsible outbursts, pointing to her controversial foreign trips that have drawn public scrutiny.
Word War Political Scapegoating and Budget Gaps
Duterte further pushed back, accusing the Marcos administration of engaging in “political scapegoating” to distract from its own failures, including the unresolved blanks in the proposed 2025 national budget and the brewing controversies surrounding a member of the First Family.
“When the administration is unable to address real issues, they divert the attention to others,” the Vice President said. “It’s classic political scapegoating—redirect the blame so people forget to ask the real questions.”
She also referenced what she described as the “extraordinary rendition” of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague—linking it to personal scandals involving those in power.
On Travel, Transparency, and Public Accountability
Addressing criticisms over her foreign travels, Duterte drew a clear line between official business and personal trips.
“If I use government funds, then yes, I must report the results. But if it’s personal and no public money is involved, then no report is required,” she said. “That’s very simple.”
This statement was in response to Castro’s earlier challenge for Duterte to publicly disclose the accomplishments of her trips abroad.
The friction between the Palace and the Vice President is becoming increasingly public and personal, as both sides trade accusations amid broader questions on governance, transparency, and accountability. With Duterte recently declaring herself the “frontrunner” for the 2028 presidential race, many political observers believe these exchanges are just the beginning of a more intense battle ahead. NOWTREND
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