Vice President Sara Duterte
—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday clapped back at Palace official Claire Castro by likening her to the saying “garbage in, garbage out,” amid an ongoing exchange of criticisms over the current administration.
Duterte made the pronouncement in response to Castro, who earlier said that the vice president should “level up” her arguments with reason and data instead of her usual claims of “politicking,” harsh words or profanity.
READ: Palace tells Sara Duterte to ‘level up’ her arguments
“Dapat sabihin niya sa sarili niya, dapat siya pumunta sa harap ng salamin at sabihin niya ‘yan na ngayong araw na ito ay hindi na ako aatake sa mga kalaban ng aking boss at ang sasabihin ko lang ay ang mga ginagawa ng aking boss para sa bayan,” said Duterte.
(She should tell that to herself, she should go in front of the mirror and tell herself that today I will no longer attack my boss’s enemies and all I will say is what my boss has been doing for the country.)
“Apparently, wala kasing ginagawa ‘yung si BBM (Bongbong Marcos) para sa ating bayan, kaya wala ding masabi ‘yung tagapagsalita so sabi ko nga, garbage in, garbage out,” she added.
(Apparently, BBM is doing nothing for our country, so the spokesperson has nothing to say, so like I said, garbage in, garbage out.)
This time, the exchange was sparked by Duterte dismissing the investigation into Villar-owned PrimeWater as being politically motivated—tying it to her endorsement of senatorial candidate Camille Villar—which Castro then criticized.
Meanwhile, in the same chance interview, Duterte also called out those using her issue on confidential funds, stating that is already a “closed issue” as an impeachment complaint has already been lodged against her.
READ: Sara Duterte told: Don’t hit House, explain funds misuse raps instead
“Huwag nila balik-balikan ang confidential funds dahil para sa kanila that is already a closed issue dahil nag-file na sila ng impeachment,” she said.
(They shouldn’t revisit the confidential funds because for them that is already a closed issue because they have already filed for impeachment.)
She then dared her critics to instead focus on other issues, particularly in the alleged irregularities in the 2025 national budget and the transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth’s funds to the national treasury.