Malacañang has rejected claims that President Marcos had a hand in the plunder and graft complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying critics are deliberately twisting the issue to shield the Vice President from corruption allegations.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) accused the Marcos administration of being behind the complaints against Duterte. Civil society groups last week filed plunder, graft, bribery, and malversation complaints against the Vice President and 15 others over the alleged mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

In a message to reporters, Castro said groups attacking the President are fabricating narratives to divert attention from the substance of the complaints pending before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“It is clear that these obstructionists operate against President Marcos Jr.,” she said.

“They will always fabricate stories to divert attention away from the corruption allegations against VP Sara,” she added.

The Palace Press Officer said it was misleading to portray the complaints as politically motivated or orchestrated by the President.

“Pipilitin na naman talaga nila na idikit sa Pangulo ang mga ito para masabi nilang pamumulitika na naman ang isyung pagwawaldas ng bise presidente (They are once again forcing the issue to be linked to the President so they can claim that the alleged misuse of the Vice President’s funds is just political maneuvering),” she said.

Castro stressed that the individuals who filed the complaints are not political allies of President Marcos, but critics of his administration.

“They should have checked who the complainants are in this instance,” she said.

“The complainants are not part of the President's political allies; instead, they are, in fact, his critics,” she added.

The Palace official questioned how the President could be accused of directing the filing of cases against the Vice President when those who lodged the complaints have openly opposed his administration.

“So, how could he casually tell them to file plunder and graft charges against VP Sara?” Castro asked.

She said attempts to reframe the case as political persecution only undermine legitimate calls for accountability.

“Are they blind, or are they simply diehard Duterte supporters?” Castro said, adding that the issue should be addressed on the basis of facts, not political noise.

In a statement, PDP deputy spokesperson Ferdinand Topacio said the allegations were “rehashed, if not fabricated,” and accused the administration of enabling supposed plunder through budget insertions in Congress.

“As the credibility and trust ratings of the administration continue to plummet… the panic-stricken Marcos regime will definitely pull out all stops,” Topacio said.

PDP is chaired by former president Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father, although she is not a member of the party.

The Vice President is among the 16 individuals civil society groups have alleged of mishandling P612.5 million in confidential funds. Those named in the complaint include Office of the Vice President official Zuleika Lopez and former Department of Education undersecretary Michael Poa.

Complainants cited acknowledgment receipts bearing allegedly fictitious names, including “Mary Grace Piattos,” which they said pointed to the unlawful transfer of public funds.

Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, one of the complainants, said accountability must prevail even when confidential funds are involved.

“Hindi dapat magtago ang isang taong gumamit ng confidential funds sa confidential nature. Accountability takes precedence (A person who used confidential funds should not hide behind their confidential nature. Accountability takes precedence),” he said.