Castro hits back: ‘Let’s see who’s talking’ at VP Duterte over governance criticism

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Feb. 25 pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticism of the administration’s governance, linking her remarks to controversies during her tenure as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

During a press briefing, Castro responded, “Let us look who’s talking,” in reaction to the vice president’s claim that governance under the present administration is “messy” and that not all Cabinet secretaries are competent.

“Mukhang tumama naman po siya dahil siya, bilang secretary ng DepEd, naitalaga siya ng Pangulo, pinagtiwalaan siya ng Pangulo, pero sa bandang huli, aamin pala ang Bise Presidente na siya ay walang kaalam-alam sa pagiging DepEd secretary,” Castro said.

The Palace official then cited alleged controversies involving ghost students, vouchers, food packs, laptops, and other school materials during Duterte’s time as education secretary, adding that these issues should not be attributed to the president.

“Ang mga kalat na ito ay ngayon winawalis at nililinis ni Secretary Sonny Angara ng DepEd,” she added, referring to the current education chief.

Duterte earlier criticized the administration in an interview with SMNI on February 21.

“Nakikita ninyo na parang kalat ang governance ngayon kasi ganoon din ang ibang departments. Buti sana kung magaling lahat ng secretaries…. Walang utos, walang nag-uutos sa iyo na presidente, at walang nagbabantay sa iyo na presidente, so iyon ang na-disappoint ako,” Duterte said.

The vice president also shared that upon assuming office as education secretary, she noticed what she described as a lack of direction from the president, saying Cabinet meetings during her tenure lacked structure.

“Akala ko mabilis [at] tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho, tapos sasabihin mo sa tao, ‘ito ang nagawa natin, ito ang gagawin natin sunod.’ Wala, walang ganoon na nangyari,” she added.

Duterte served as DepEd secretary from June 2022 to June 2024.