Malacañang accused Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday of focusing on personal interests during her tenure as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, claiming her actions did not align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro responded to Duterte’s criticisms of the administration, stating that Duterte failed to follow presidential guidance. Castro said, “Hindi talaga niya malalaman ang direktiba ng Pangulo kung hindi siya marunong makinig at nagsasarili ng diskarte para sa pansariling interest (She cannot be aware of the President’s directives if she does not know how to listen and instead pursues strategies for personal interests).”
Castro highlighted alleged irregularities under Duterte’s leadership at DepEd, including a “ghost students” scheme and the distribution of spoiled meals in the school feeding program. She emphasized that these issues contradicted Marcos’s instructions, noting, “Hindi rin direktiba ng Pangulo ang ginawa noon ng DepEd sa pamumuno ng bise presidente na magdeliver ng bulok, may amag na pagkain sa mga estudyante sa feeding program (It was not the President’s directive what DepEd, under the Vice President, did when it delivered rotten or moldy food to students in the feeding program).”
In addressing Duterte’s comments on Marcos’s confidence regarding flood control anomalies, Castro defended the President, asserting that his assurance stems from integrity. She stated, “Magiging confident ang isang tao kapag alam niya na ang ginagawa niya ay para sa bayan at hindi pansarili lamang tulad ng iba dyan…’Yan ang ating Pangulo, matapang at taas noo sa mga sinasabi (A person becomes confident when he knows his actions are for the nation and not for personal gain, unlike others…That is our President – courageous and upright).”