MANILA — Malacañang admonished Vice President Sara Duterte over her remarks linking Senate political tensions to the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying the disarray in the chamber stems from her allies.

In a report, it said that Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Duterte’s statements misrepresented the situation and accused her camp of spreading false narratives.

“Ang paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan ay naglalagay sa atin sa isang kumunoy,” Castro said when asked to respond to Duterte’s recent tirades against the administration.

Castro said the administration continues to focus on governance challenges, including global oil pressures and the aftermath of a recent earthquake in Mindanao, while criticizing Duterte’s public statements.

“Habang ang Pangulo ay patuloy na nagtatrabaho para ayusin, mabigyan ng mga tulong para mapaganda ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino lalung-lalo na’t may kinakaharap tayong global oil crisis pati na po ang nangyaring lindol sa Mindanao, patuloy na nagtatrabaho samantala ang Bise Presidente ay patuloy sa paninira at binabago ang naratibo,” she said.

Castro also raised allegations involving Senate leadership realignments and claims related to law enforcement movements inside the chamber, pointing to the involvement of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca in alleged decisions tied to security concerns.

She further cited Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in relation to Senate developments, saying his actions were linked to changes in leadership and impeachment-related proceedings.

“Inamin din naman ni Senator Bato dela Rosa kung bakit pinilit na siya ay pumunta at bumoto – una, to change the leadership; pangalawa, for the impeachment,” she said.

Castro also said those involved in recent Senate maneuverings were allies of the Vice President.

“So ang mga tao sa likod nito, ang lahat ng ito, lahat sila, sila iyong nagsasabing dapat na ibasura ang impeachment, ito ay lahat para sa proteksiyon ng Bise Presidente,” she said.

She added that allegations of facilitating Dela Rosa’s movements did not come from the President’s camp but from lawmakers aligned with Duterte.

“So, hindi totoo na patungkol daw sa kahinaan ng liderato sa administrasyon kung hindi ito ay sa patuloy na pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan para lamang sa kanilang mga kaalyado,” she said.

Castro also reiterated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not currently considering returning the Philippines to the International Criminal Court after the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2017.