Palace hits Sara Duterte over claims that raps vs. Pulong was politicking

Malacañang on Monday slammed Vice President Sara Duterte over her claim that the complaint filed against her brother, Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, was supposedly part of the Marcos administration’s ''political attacks'' on their family.

In a briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said it would be better if Pulong just answered the complaint lodged against him.

''Kung inamin naman po ni Congressman Pulong Duterte, ayon sa kaniyang interview, hindi niya itinanggi ang video, papaano ipapahid ng Bise Presidente ang ginawang ito ng kaniyang kapatid sa Pangulo at sa administrasyon?'' Castro said.

(If Congressman Pulong Duterte, in his interview, did not deny the video, why blame the President and his administration?)

''Nabanggit dito na ang pagha-hire, pagkuha ng ibang mga kababaihan for their own satisfaction, ang sandaling kaligayahan. Bakit ito ibibintang sa Pangulo? Hindi ba dapat sagutin na lamang nila kung ano ang complaint?'' she added.

(Hiring women for their own satisfaction was mentioned here. Why blame the President over this? Why don't they answer the complaint?)

The Vice President earlier said that the Marcos administration wants to destroy the image of their enemies to “cover up” the real issues in the country.

For Castro, the Vice President should have at least "leveled up" in her discussions and in her responses to certain issues.

''But it seems that she never heard anything in regard to that or she just refuses to listen. Hindi siya nag-level up; mas parang bumaba pa. Inuulit niya muli ang kaniyang mga excuses na pamumulitika, politicking,'' she said.

(She didn't just not level up, she's even gone lower. She's repeating the excuse of politicking.)

The Palace official also said that Pulong, as a lawmaker and a public servant, must know his obligations.

''He should know the laws, he should know what good traits of a leader should be and what good traits that a leader should describe himself,'' Castro said.

A businessman had filed a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats against Pulong before the Department of Justice as he accused the congressman of violating Article 265 and Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code.

In his sworn statement, the complainant said that Pulong threatened him with a knife and beat him up for around two hours on February 23 at a bar in Davao City.

For his part, Pulong has yet to issue a comment on the complaint, saying he has yet to receive a copy.

‘Harassment’

The Vice President, later on Monday, stood firm on her "cover-up" accusation against the Marcos administration.

“‘Yung timing na ginagawa nila at ‘yung pattern na ginagawa nila sa pamilya namin na galing sa administration ay hindi siya lost sa mga kababayan natin na nanonood. Nakikita nila kung ano ‘yung panggigipit at pang-aapi na ginagawa nila sa kanilang mga kalaban sa pulitika para tabunan o cover-an ‘yung mga kakulangan ng gobyerno at ng administrasyon sa totoong serbisyo ng kailangan ng bayan, at kawalan ng mga development projects—big-ticket projects at mga programa para sa ating bayan,” the Vice President said in an ambush interview in Zamboanga Sibugay.

(The timing and the pattern that the administration is doing to our family is not lost on the people. They see the harassment and oppression being done by the administration to their political enemies to cover up their shortcomings in providing real services to the people, as well as the lack of development projects—big-ticket projects and programs for our people.)

Sara also said that lawyers of hers and of her family members are currently working on the different cases and complaints filed against them. — with a report by Giselle Ombay/AOL/BM, GMA Integrated News