Palace slams Sara: Public servants must really look in the mirror and assess themselves

Malacañang responded to Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, asking about her whereabouts when she said it was President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. who is engaging in politicking. 

To recall, Duterte said that Marcos should focus on work instead of politicking, adding that his administration was resorting to attacks and that her camp was just responding to them. 

''Tama naman po na ang bawat tao lalong-lalo na po ang public servant ay dapat na nananalamin at ina-assess niya iyong sarili niya kung siya ba’y nagtatrabaho, namumulitika o nagbabakasyon lang,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(It's right that each individual, especially public servants should look in the mirror and assess themselves if they are working, politicking, or merely on vacation.) 

''Ang Pangulong Marcos Jr., alam po niya ang direksiyon niya, alam po niya ang dapat na gawing trabaho at iyan po ang pinag-uutos sa lahat ng public servants lalong-lalo na po sa ilalim ng Executive Department. Ang utos sa amin ay magtrabaho, iwasan ang pamumulitika,'' she added. 

(President Marcos Jr. knows his direction and he knows the job he needs to do and he instructed all public servants, especially those under the Executive Department. He tasked us to work, and avoid politicking.) 

Castro highlighted that Marcos was busy in his work, citing the distribution of patient transport vehicles this morning. She then asked the whereabouts of the Vice President, who is currently in The Netherlands visiting her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in The Hague by the International Criminal Court. 

''Sa ngayon po ba ay nasaan si VP Sara or si Bise Presidente noong iyan ay sinabi niya? Nasaan po ba siya ngayon? The Hague, okay, at ang ating pagkakaalam hanggang kailan po siya doon? Hanggang July 23. So, iyon lamang po. Tandaan po natin, ang Pangulo po aksiyon, aksiyon—hindi bakasyon,'' Castro said. 

(Right now, where's VP Sara when she said that? Where is she? The Hague, okay and until when is she? Until July 23. So, that's all, let's remember, the President is focused on action and not vacation.) 

GMA News Online has reached out to the camp of the Vice President for comment.

Castro earlier took a swipe against those taking vacations instead of performing government work.

She made the remark when the Vice President traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a personal trip with her family. — BM, GMA Integrated News