MANILA – Malacañang accused Vice President Sara Duterte of prioritizing personal interests during her tenure as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), saying her actions did not align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte could not claim that the President’s leadership was unclear when her decisions in office allegedly focused on self-interest rather than national priorities.

“Hindi talaga niya malalaman ang direktiba ng Pangulo kung hindi siya marunong makinig at nagsasarili ng diskarte para sa pansariling interest (She cannot be aware of the President’s directives if she does not know how to listen and instead pursues strategies for personal interests),” Castro said.

The Palace statement came after Duterte, in a press briefing, criticized the administration and questioned what she described as Marcos’ unclear directives.

Castro cited alleged irregularities under Duterte’s leadership at DepEd, including the so-called “ghost students” scheme and the delivery of spoiled or moldy food to beneficiaries of a school feeding program.

“Hindi rin direktiba ng Pangulo ang ginawa noon ng DepEd sa pamumuno ng bise presidente na magdeliver ng bulok, may amag na pagkain sa mga estudyante sa feeding program (It was not the President’s directive what DepEd, under the Vice President, did when it delivered rotten or moldy food to students in the feeding program),” she said.

Confidence rooted in integrity

Duterte earlier questioned Marcos’ confidence that he would not be implicated in the ongoing investigations into flood control anomalies, saying it was premature to clear himself while inquiries were still underway.

In response, Castro said the President’s confidence stems from his integrity.

“Magiging confident ang isang tao kapag alam niya na ang ginagawa niya ay para sa bayan at hindi pansarili lamang tulad ng iba dyan… ’Yan ang ating Pangulo, matapang at taas noo sa mga sinasabi (A person becomes confident when he knows his actions are for the nation and not for personal gain, unlike others… That is our President – courageous and upright),” she said. (PNA)