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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace claps back at VP Sara: Marcos wants no replication of missing seized drugs from magnetic lifters during Duterte's time

Palace claps back at VP Sara: Marcos wants no replication of missing seized drugs from magnetic lifters during Duterte's time

Published Jun 26, 2025 01:22 pm
Malacañang hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for criticizing the move of President Marcos to witness the destruction of P9.48-billion seized illegal drugs, saying her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, has also done it during his time.
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday, June 26, defended Marcos' decision to witness the incineration of the illegal drugs, which the Vice President tagged as mere “photo ops.”
Castro said Marcos wanted to ensure that the illegal drugs were indeed destroyed and that they will not disappear, citing the alleged disappearance of shabu stuffed in magnetic lifters in 2018.
It was not for photo opportunities, but an act showing the people that the President is serious in fighting the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, she added.
The Palace official also insisted that Marcos has an obligation to report to the people. She clapped back, saying “the President woke up early, went to work, and did not go on vacation.”
“Nais ng Pangulo na masawata ang iligal na droga sa bansa at ang pagtatrabaho po ng Pangulo ay dapat maramdaman ng tao. Hindi po ito pang photo ops lang. Ito ay nagsisilbing babala sa mga kriminal at nagsisilbi rin po itong inspirasyon sa mga taumbayan na nagnanais na masawata ang iligal na droga (The President wants to eradicate illegal drugs in the country, and his efforts should be felt by the people. This is not just for photo opportunities. It serves as a warning to criminals and also as an inspiration to citizens who want to eliminate illegal drugs),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
“Mas maganda po siguro talaga na pasinayaan at makita mismo ng Pangulo ang pagsira sa mga iligal na droga na ito kaysa po walang gawin sa mga nawalang iligal na droga sa magnetic lifter (It is indeed better for the President to personally witness and lead the destruction of these illegal drugs rather than do nothing about the missing illegal drugs from the magnetic lifters),” Castro added.
“Kailan nga ito nawala? 2018 (When did those go missing again? 2018)?”Castro went on.
She further threw a shade on the vice president, saying she might have forgotten that her father also used to do the same practice during his presidency. She even showed a published news article in 2020 to prove her point.
“At baka po nakalimutan din po ng bise presidente na ang kanyang ama ay nagkaroon din po ng pagwi-witness sa incineration sa P7.51 billion dangerous drugs sa Cavite. 2020 lamang, baka nakalimutan po ito ni bise presidente (And perhaps the Vice President has also forgotten that her own father once witnessed the incineration of P7.51 billion worth of dangerous drugs in Cavite. That was only in 2020 — maybe the vice president forgot),” Castro clapped back.
She reiterated that the President's work should not be hidden, it should be visible to the public.

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VP Sara Duterte President Marcos illegal drugs
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