MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte after the latter said she wanted the public to see President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s alleged "shamelessness" until the end.
In a statement, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told Duterte to "stop being fake and pretending to be nice," accusing the vice president of previously expressing a desire to remove Marcos from office.
"She has long wanted the President removed from office, and she said so herself in a speech in the Netherlands on July 19, 2025, when she stated, ‘All of us want BBM removed from office,” Castro said.
"She cannot deny having said it. Stop being fake and pretending to be nice," she added.
In an ambush interview in Davao City on Independence Day, Duterte said she had no desire to take over Marcos’ position and would rather let Filipinos see until the very end how "shameless" the president is.
Castro countered Duterte, saying that the term was more fitting for "murderers, assassins, those who intimidate people, and purveyors of fake news."
She added that Duterte's description "reflects her own family."
"If she truly does not want it, she should be the one stopping her allies from sowing chaos," Castro said.
