Malacañang believes that the Philippines' increasing tourism revenues are proof of the improved peace and order situation in the country, contrary to claims of the administration's critics.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that the country has surpassed pre-pandemic numbers after recording P65.3 billion in tourism revenues this January.

The DOT has also recorded that about 1,167,908 tourists visited the country in the first two months of 2025.

In a press briefing on Monday, March 10, Castro said the country's tourism revenues surpassing pre-pandemic figures was an indication of an improved peace and order situation.

"Kung hindi maganda ang peace and order sa Pilipinas, mas malamang po matakot ang mga turistang pumunta sa atin (If we don't have good peace and order, for sure tourists would be afraid to come here)," she said.

"Pero dahil nga tumataas po ang bilang ng mga turistang pumupunta sa atin... ibig sabihin po, hindi natatakot pumunta ang mga turistang pumunta sa ating bansa (But since the number of tourists coming is increasing, it means they are not afraid to visit)," she added.

Meanwhile, in an interview with State-run PTV-4 on Monday morning, Castro once again hit back at Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte after he said that the country's crime rate was increasing because the government has become lenient to criminals.

According to Castro, Duterte should look in the mirror first before throwing accusations.

"Ang pagkakaalam ko po, kaya po yata ito nasabi ni Mayor Baste ay dahil may mga krimeng nagaganap sa kaniyang lungsod (From what I know, he's saying this because of the crimes that have been happening in his city)," she said.

"Hindi po ba dapat humarap muna siya sa salamin at sabihin niya bakit ang taas ng crime rate ngayon sa aking lungsod, hindi po ba nagri-reflect ito ng kaniyang pagiging epektibo ba siya o hindi sa pamamahala niya sa kaniyang lungsod (Shouldn't he look in the mirror and ask why it's happening in his city? Isn't this a reflection of his leadership)?" she asked.

Castro cited an earlier statement of Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), that there were misreporting of police blotters to sanitize Davao City’s real crime statistics.

"Mas maganda po, ang sabi po nila, hindi po kasi kasangga o kadikit ng mayor ang na-assign na bagong police officer o chief niya sa kaniyang lungsod o city director po niya (They said it's better because the new police chief is not allied with the local executives)," she said.

Castro then urged Mayor Duterte to work with the government to ensure peace and order in his city.

"Nasa kamay niya po ang pag-aayos ng sarili niyang lungsod (Cleaning up his city is in his hands)," she said.

"Huwag po niyang ipahid sa Pangulo iyong kaniyang kabagalan, kahinaan sa pamumuno diyan sa Davao City (Let's the blame the President for his slowness and weakness in leading Davao City)," she added.