PALACE Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it is “more shameful” to be the child of someone once tagged as “most corrupt.”
Castro issued the remark during an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Friday, Feb. 13, following Duterte’s earlier statement that she was “bringing shame” to the country as spokesperson of the Office of the President (OP).
“Ang pagsasabi ng katotohanan, hindi po ’yan nakakahiya,” Castro said.
“Ang nakakahiya, ’yung madalas nilang ginagawa, ’yong gumagawa lamang at nagtatahi-tahi ng kuwento,” she added.
Castro then took a swipe at Duterte, referring to the 2017 report of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which had included former President Rodrigo Duterte in a list of personalities tagged as “most corrupt.”
“Hindi ba mas nakakahiya ’yung naging anak ka ng most corrupt noong 2017? Sino ba ang sinabi ng OCCRP na most corrupt noong 2017? Ang dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.
“’Di ba mas nakakahiya ata ang tawaging anak ng isang korap,” she added.
Castro also described Duterte’s remarks as “utak buwitre,” suggesting that the vice president was waiting for an opportunity to highlight negative issues involving the President.
“’Yung mga ganitong klaseng pasaring ng Bise Presidente, ano ito e, utak buwitre. Parang naghihintay ng maaring sabihing pangit o negatibo sa Pangulo para manguna,” she said.
The exchange stemmed from Duterte’s interview with News5 on Feb. 12, where she accused Castro of repeatedly “bringing shame” to the country in her capacity as Palace spokesperson.
