MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains receptive to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s suggestions — so long as they are meaningful and serve the public interest, Malacañang clarified, following criticisms from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) about being left out of key decisions.
“Welcome po ang suhestyon na makabuluhan. Magandang suhestyon na magmumula sa OVP,” said Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing on Thursday. “Hindi po ito tinatanggihan at hindi po isinasara ng Pangulo ang pintuan sa Bise Presidente.”
“Lahat po ng suhestyon niya na makabuluhan ay tatanggapin ‘yan kung ito naman ay makakatulong sa taumbayan,” she added.
Castro’s remarks came in response to the OVP’s earlier criticism that Duterte-Carpio was allegedly being sidelined by the administration and that her programs were not being supported — calling this a “disservice to the country.”
But Malacañang pushed back, asserting that it was the Vice President who has been keeping her distance. Castro recalled Duterte-Carpio’s previous statement claiming she had a solution to reduce rice prices but chose not to share it with the government.
“Tandaan po natin na si Bise Presidente ang nagsabi na mayroon siyang formula o alam na paraan para maipababa ang presyo ng bigas pero ayaw niya i-share sa gobyerno o sa administrasyon dahil ayaw niyang tulungan ang gobyerno,” Castro pointed out.
“So hindi po nanggagaling sa administrasyon o sa Pangulo ang pagharang para sa kanyang mga gustong gawin para sa bayan,” she added./PN
