Palace rebuts Sara Duterte’s ‘poor governance’ claim

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday countered Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that the administration has been “defined by poor governance,” stressing that the Marcos administration is characterized by good leadership, unlike the previous administration.

Duterte made the remark after members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gathered at the Edsa People Power Monument to express support for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. “The people gathered at EDSA today reflect a growing sentiment that I have consistently expressed since 2024,” Duterte said.

READ: Sara Duterte: Edsa rally reflects growing frustration with Marcos

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In dismissing these sentiments, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the administration has already sanctioned personalities involved in corruption less than a year since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initiated an investigation.

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“It hasn’t even been a year, but many people have already been charged and many have already been jailed — one of them is even an ally of former President Duterte. I am referring to Sen. Bong Revilla. No one is being spared, no one is being singled out based on political color!” she said.

Castro also said, “It hasn’t even been a year, yet many people are already growing impatient. But they weren’t impatient during the six years of former President Duterte’s administration, when there was hardly any investigation.”

She added that little has been heard about investigations into flood control projects during the previous administration.

“So, can we say this is good governance? Definitely, absolutely, with regard to the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are seeing good governance. The question we should ask is: what happened in the past? Why shouldn’t we look for those so-called ghost projects that former President Duterte mentioned as early as 2020?” the Palace official said.

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In her statement, Duterte also accused Marcos of being “detached” from the suffering of many Filipinos, including those affected by rising prices, job insecurity, and the increasing cost of daily life.

“Instead of confronting these challenges with solutions, the administration has chosen to silence dissent under the guise of accountability,” the vice president said.

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“The president’s failures of character and leadership have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment. A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect,” Duterte added.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over her alleged threats against Marcos and his wife, unexplained wealth, and misuse of confidential funds. The Senate Impeachment Court will begin her trial on July 6. /das

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