Palace to VP Sara: Explain OVP, DepEd fund mess, too

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday pushed back against the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying no public official should claim the moral high ground while leaving corruption allegations unanswered.

Castro said Filipinos “deserve better” in their call for a clean government, as she urged Duterte’s team to respond to controversies linked to her tenure at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and previously, the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Huwag magmalinis ang hindi malinis. Huwag magpakabayani ang hindi bayani,” she said during a Malacañang press briefing.

(Do not pretend to be clean if you are not. Do not act like a hero if you are not.)

Castro said Duterte’s camp should first clarify unresolved questions surrounding the use of confidential funds, and the release of funds for alleged “ghost students” and “ghost food packs” under her watch.

“It’s true Filipinos deserve better — which is why earlier issues involving the Vice President, such as alleged corruption in confidential funds, DepEd ghost students, and DepEd ghost food packs, should be explained if they truly believe in transparency and accountability,” she said.

Castro defended Marcos against claims that he is complicit in the fund anomalies involving the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

She said it was the President who initiated investigations into irregularities that were not pursued under the Duterte administration, including alleged anomalies dating back to 2020.

“Si Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang nanguna sa pagpapaimbestiga ng mga anomalya na hindi ginawa noong nakaraang administrasyon kahit naparaming ghost projects noon pang 2020,” she said.

(President Marcos Jr. led the investigation into anomalies that the previous administration failed to act on, even though there were numerous ghost projects as far back as 2020.)

Castro added that Filipinos “really deserve better,” urging voters to choose leaders who uphold accountability.

Her remarks come after Duterte again accused the Marcos administration of political persecution, questioned budget transparency, and revived her criticisms over the disputed P125-million confidential funds.

Duterte has also hit the administration over stalled education reforms and ongoing investigations, while her allies accuse the Palace of retaliation and selective scrutiny.

In a video on Monday night, Castro also asked if Duterte has made any effort to investigate the flood control projects of the current and previous administrations.

“Ang galing niya bumatikos. Nakatulong ba siya? May ginawa ba siya para mapanagot ang mga corrupt? Did she ever look at the 13,917 flood control projects during his father’s time?” Castro said. 

(She’s so good at criticizing. Did she do anything to help? Did she do anything to hold the corrupt accountable? Did she ever look at the 13,917 flood control projects during her father’s time?)

“Hindi ka pwede mag-appear na malinis dito kung yung kalat niyo mismo ang niwawalis ngayon ng Pangulo,” she added. 

(You can’t appear to be blameless if the President is cleaning the mess of your family.) — MCG/JMA, GMA Integrated News