Statement of Malacañang on “Mere Political Attack” Claim of VP Sara Duterte over Complaint vs. Congressman Paolo Duterte
MALACAÑANG – The Palace press officer asked why the complaint against Davao Congressman Paolo Duterte is being blamed on President Bongbong Marcos.
Currently, it is Davao City First District Cong. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte who is in The Hague, Netherlands for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for more than a month now.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who just returned from the Hague last month after a three-week stay abroad to finalize the ICC legal team of their father is currently busy campaigning for the PDP-Laban candidates. According to her, Congressman Pulong is set to return to the Philippines a day before the 2025 Elections.
Cong. Paolo Duterte is running for reelection as the representative of Davao City’s first district in the Congress. He also committed to campaign fervently for the #Duter10. However, amid the 2025 Elections drawing near, complaints were filed against the eldest son of former Pres. Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the complaints filed against Cong. Paolo Duterte is allegedly a mere political attack by the Marcos administration. Recently, Malacañang responded to the claim of the Vice President.
Based on a report on Inquirer, Malacañang press officer Atty. Claire Castro reiterated her previous claim that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte must level up her arguments and discussions. She claimed that the Vice President seem to have not heard anything.
“As I have said during the last press briefing, the vice president should have at least leveled up in her discussions, in her responses to certain issues. But it seems that she never heard of anything in regard to that, or she just refuses to listen,” the Palace press officer said.
Atty. Claire Castro previously called on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to back her arguments with data. Based on the report, the Malacañang Press Officer further claimed that the Vice President’s level of arguments allegedly went lower. She also asked why Pres. Bongbong Marcos is being blamed on the complaint against Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte.
“She didn’t level up—in fact, it seems she went even lower… Why is this being blamed on the President?” she said.
Cong. Paolo Duterte who is in The Hague recently joked that their whole family can be detained at the ICC detention facility. The Davao Congressman did not say a lot on the complaint. According to him, it is up to the people of Davao to vote for him or not.