MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr. hit back at Palace Undersecretary Claire Castro after she told the Vice President to focus on working for Filipinos instead of campaigning.
Panelo called Castro’s remark ironic, saying many Filipinos had the same view of the administration under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Who has done nothing but political persecution and political consolidation? Who is responsible for running our failing economy?” Panelo said Tuesday in a statement.
He also questioned how Marcos could supposedly have no knowledge of what Panelo called the country’s biggest corruption scandal, noting that it allegedly involved the President’s cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez.
Panelo further accused Marcos of blaming Duterte for his administration’s shortcomings.
Castro earlier said public servants should prioritize working for the people rather than campaigning or engaging in attacks against political opponents.
