Palace: VP not working, not helping Asean

MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday, saying the country’s second highest official has time to attack the Marcos administration while contributing nothing to the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Castro made the remarks during an interview in Cebu, where the country hosted the 48th ASEAN Summit, attended by leaders from the 11-member regional bloc.

Duterte, who is in The Hague, Netherlands, criticized the Marcos administration over the growing national debt and rising unemployment.

Duterte said this was expected “because the entire administration, especially the President, is not working.” 

Disputing the Vice President’s claim, Castro stressed it is normal for countries to have debts to provide support to their countrymen.

She also emphasized that the country’s debt grew, as the Marcos administration inherited the “huge debt” the administration of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, acquired.

“She (Sara Duterte) doesn’t know what’s going on, what the President is working on. As you all can see, those who are here today for the ASEAN Summit, the President is working,” Castro said. 

“The President is here, very busy with the ASEAN Summit. The concerned agencies and departments of the executive branch are here to work. While the Vice President is vacationing abroad,” she added.  

“She is not helping with ASEAN right now, and she is not working,” Castro said. — Bella Cariaso