VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte dismissed allegations that she is a “habitual absentee” from her duties, calling the claim baseless and politically motivated.
“Habitual absence? Saan? Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung pinagsasabi nila na habitual absence,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City during an ambush interview.
The Vice President said the accusations were part of a smear campaign by critics of the Duterte family.
“Ito na naman ‘yung style ng mga tao na anti-Duterte na nagbibigay lang ng akusasyon kung saan-saan at wala namang basehan, walang ebidensiya,” she said. “Ang akusasyon na walang basehan ay isang paninira lamang. Ganyan ang lagi nilang ginagawa.”
Some lawmakers had earlier questioned the Vice President’s frequent trips abroad, suggesting these took her away from her official duties.
But OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo defended Duterte, saying the Vice President continues to perform her tasks even when she is not seen in public.
“Hindi lang natin nakikita pero ang trabaho na kailangan niyang gawin for the office is still being done,” Castelo said.
She added that Duterte personally reviews official statements before release. “Even the press releases that we make, the ones in social media, tsini-check muna ni Vice President ‘yung mga figures… iko-compare niya sa records niya,” Castelo said.
