MALACAÑANG on Friday called Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her presidential bid in 2028 “irrelevant,” since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remained focused on addressing key issues in the country.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters what Marcos wants are measures to improve the country’s economy and solutions to address flood problems.
“That kind of view… that is not the view of the Palace. The Vice President’s declaration that she will run for president is irrelevant,” Castro said, when asked if Malacañang sees Duterte’s early declaration as a way to determine who will remain allies of the administration and who will back the vice president.
“Why is it irrelevant? Because that is not what the President sees as necessary at this time, since there is no need for Filipinos to be divided,” she said.
Castro said that Filipinos, especially leaders and public servants, should not be taking sides right now. “What the President needs is unity in order to lift the economy, resolve the flooding issue, increase the employment rate of our Filipinos and our countrymen,” she said.
“Those are the matters that our government should prioritize and address. Taking sides is not timely,” Castro said.
Equally untimely is the opinion of political analyst Antonio Contreras that Marcos’ endorsement of former vice president Leni Robredo could potentially defeat Duterte.
Contreras said if the elections were held today, a Robredo presidency bid endorsed by Marcos could defeat Duterte.
“Is it shaping up to be former VP Leni versus VP Sara? Is it action versus vacation? Working versus not working? Pro-Philippines versus not pro-any country?” Castro said.
“That is a suggestion we respect, sorry but it is not timely,” she said.
Marcos and Robredo are set to meet over the weekend for the implementation of Oplan Kontra Baha in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Castro said she has no information that the two would discuss political plans during their meeting.
