Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a press briefing with ARTA on May 5, 2026. Video grab from RTVM’s livestream/Facebook.
Malacañang on Tuesday downplayed remarks by Vice President Sara Duterte about the 2028 elections, framing them as a distraction from more urgent national concerns, particularly the government’s response to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains focused on mitigating the effects of rising global oil prices and safeguarding the domestic economy.
“Ang Pangulo ay abala sa pag-aayos ng anumang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East,” Castro said during a press briefing, noting that the president had just concluded a meeting of the government’s economic cluster and was set to attend another high-level discussion later in the day.
Castro contrasted this with Duterte’s recent statement made in the Netherlands, where she said, “we can only pray that there will be presidential elections in 2028,” adding that they should be “honest, orderly, and peaceful.”
“Nakikita rin natin ang kasabikan ng Bise Presidente na pag-usapan ang halalan sa 2028,” Castro said.
The Palace official also dismissed the Vice President’s remarks as unfounded, suggesting they were not grounded in constitutional reality.
“Alam nating intriga lamang… mga kuwentong walang basehan,” Castro said, adding that Duterte, as a lawyer, should review the Constitution.
Castro further noted that the president’s priority remains addressing the economic impact of external shocks, particularly the spike in oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East. She said the administration continues to implement measures such as fuel subsidies, financial aid for vulnerable sectors, and monitoring of commodity prices.
The Palace has repeatedly emphasized that the government is focused on stabilizing prices and ensuring sufficient supply of essential goods, including rice, amid global uncertainties.
Duterte has yet to issue a clarification on her remarks.