ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left), and Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro says the claim of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque that Vice President Sara Duterte is now “the leader of the opposition” following her resignation from the Marcos Cabinet is simply unacceptable.

“Hindi kapani-paniwala, hindi katanggap-tanggap itong sinasabi ni former secretary Roque na kaugnay sa pagiging opposition na raw ni Sara,” Castro said during a press conference Thursday, June 20 by the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives.

(It’s unbelievable and unacceptable for former secretary Roque to say that Sara is now in the opposition.)

“Saan banda (Which part)?” she asked sarcastically. 

Castro says Duterte is not a genuine member of the opposition since she consistently neglects the plight of the people.

“Hindi naman siya nagbibigay ng mga statement para sa mga taongbayan. Katulad na nga nitong sa PUV (Public Utility Vehicle) modernization, wala siyang sinasabi diyaan, ni-red tag niya pa nga kami diyan,” she noted.

(She does not give statements for the public. Just like with the PUV modernization, she doesn't say anything about it, she even red-tagged us there.)

The House Deputy Minority Leader was referring to a statement last year by Duterte where she labeled ACT Teachers Party-list as a “lover” of the ideologies of armed communist groups. 

“Hanggang ngayon naman ‘yung kaniyang mga polisiya before na mag-resign siya as secretary of education dala-dala pa rin naman niya ‘yung mga polisiya ng present administration, lalo na sa usapin ng NTF-ELCAC at iba pang usapin na tahimik siya,” said Castro.

(Until now--her policies before she resigned as secretary of education--she was still carrying the policies of the present administration, especially on the matter of NTF-ELCAC and other matters that she remained silent on.)

“Hindi natin siya pwedeng ma-consider as opposition dahil bahagi pa rin siya ng mga naghaharing-uri sa ating lipunan na talagang nagpapahirap sa ating bayan,” she stressed.

(We cannot consider her as opposition because she is still part of the ruling classes in our society that are really burdening our people.)

On Wednesday, Vice President Duterte ended months of speculation about her place in the Marcos administration by resigning from her role as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Following Roque’s claim that Duterte is now the opposition leader, it would seem like battle lines are finally drawn for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.

For Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, the end to the once mighty "UniTeam" partnership between Marcos and Duterte is a “classic case of tug of war”.

“Between traditional politicians ‘yan na gustong isemento yung position nila sa upcoming elections. Wala sa interes ng parehong kampo ng Duterte at Marcos ang pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mamamayan,” said Brosas.

(It's between traditional politicians who want to cement their position in the upcoming elections. It is not in the interests of both the Duterte and Marcos camps to uphold the rights of the people.)

Brosas noted that if Duterte truly wants to be a genuine opposition figure, she needs to have a clean track record in public service, advocate for human rights, and represent ordinary Filipinos.

“Malinaw na hindi pasok si Vice President Sara Duterte sa mga criteria na ito para maging opposition leader. Sino ba naman ang makakalimot sa…queen of confidential funds dahil sa pagwaldas niya ng confidential funds sa loob lang ng 11 days kung maaalala ninyo,” she noted.

(It is clear that Vice President Sara Duterte does not meet these criteria to be an opposition leader. Who can forget the...queen of confidential funds because she squandered confidential funds in just 11 days if you remember.)

The lawmaker is referring to the P125-million confidential funds that the Office of Vice President (OVP) spent in just 11 days in 2022, as disclosed by the Commission on Audit (COA).