MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest criticisms of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as baseless, saying it would be a “waste of time” to respond to accusations that have no factual basis.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro took issue with Duterte’s admission that she did not listen to the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), describing the speech as a constitutional obligation through which the President reports on the administration’s accomplishments and legislative agenda.

Castro said disregarding the SONA also reflects a failure to respect the Constitution and the country’s institutions.

“Ano po ba ang nangyayari sa isang tao kapag hindi po inaalam ang sitwasyon ng kanyang bansa, kung ano ang programa ng pangulo? Walang alam,” she said.

She urged Filipinos to stay informed and verify facts, warning that people who remain uninformed are more vulnerable to manipulation.

“May mga tao na ang nais ay manatiling walang alam, mangmang ang mga kababayan. Mas madaling manipulahin ang mga taong walang alam,” Castro said.

“Obligasyon po nating alamin ang katotohanan at huwag tayong sumunod sinuman na nag-uudyok na manatili tayong mangmang sa katotohanan. Mabubulag po tayo diyan. Obligasyon po nating alamin para hindi tayo manatiling mangmang sa katotohanan,” she added.

Castro also rejected Duterte’s claims that the Marcos administration failed to fulfill campaign promises, including the pledge to provide rice at ₱20 per kilogram.

She said subsidized rice is already being distributed through Kadiwa centers and is benefiting many Filipinos.

The Palace official likewise denied Duterte’s assertion that Marcos failed to honor a personal promise involving the use of the presidential helicopter, referring to the Vice President’s previous statement that she wanted to use the aircraft to return home every night to be with her children.

Castro also brushed aside Duterte’s remarks alleging that the country is drifting toward dictatorship and questioning whether the 2028 national elections would push through, reiterating that responding to such claims would be “a waste of time.”

She further rejected Duterte’s statement linking recent incidents of school violence to weak leadership, saying the government and the Philippine National Police have responded promptly and continue to implement measures to address such incidents.

“Mas maganda po talagang alamin kung anong programa ng Pangulo para hindi po tayo nabubulag sa katotohanan,” Castro said.