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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace to VP Sara: A leader must make decisions based on facts

Palace to VP Sara: A leader must make decisions based on facts

Published Mar 9, 2026 04:14 pm
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
Malacañang hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for saying that it was easy to send aircraft to repatriate affected Filipinos in the Middle East, lecturing her on how a leader must come up with decisions amid critical situations.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro did not mince words in responding to the Vice President’s remarks, saying they showed little understanding of the situation in the Middle East, where airspace remains closed due to airstrikes.
"Unang-una po siguro, ‘yan ang problema po sa mga hindi nag-aaral at hindi nag-iisip at hindi inaalam po ano talaga ang programa ng gobyernong ito (First of all, that is probably the problem with those who do not study, do not think, and do not try to understand what the programs of this government really are)," Castro said in a press briefing in New York on Monday, March 9.
"Makapagsalita lamang para makakuha siguro ng mga views pero hindi po ito naaayon sa realidad (They speak just to perhaps gain views, but what they say does not reflect reality)," Castro added.
The Palace official even lectured the Vice President on making decisions during critical situations.
A leader, Castro stressed, should not make decisions based on a friend's account alone, referring to the supposed situation of overseas Filipinos in the Middle East.
"Unang-una po, kapag ka po ang isang lider, dapat siya ay nagbibigay ng opinyon, siya ay nagsa-suggest, nagbibigay ng desisyon ayon sa katotohanan, ayon sa facts, ayon din sa mga sitwasyon at ayon sa mga kondisyon ng mga stakeholders. Hindi po ayon lamang sa iisang kaibigan (First, a leader should give opinions, make suggestions, and make decisions based on the truth, based on facts, based on the situation, and based on the conditions of the stakeholders—not just according to a single friend)," Castro said.
The Palace mouthpiece further said a leader's decision should not be based on mere hearsay.
"Dahil kung diyan po magagaling ang iyong desisyon, malamang lumugwak, lumigwak ang buong Pilipinas kung puro kaibigan, puro tsismis lang po ang ating pagbabasehan ng desisyon (Because if decisions are based on that alone, the whole Philippines will likely suffer and fail if we rely only on friends and gossip as the basis for our decisions)," Castro said.
"So mas maganda po talaga, ang isang lider natin ay marunong mag-isip, marunong magdesisyon, hindi para sa sarili lamang, kundi para sa buong bayan (So it is truly better if our leader knows how to think and how to make decisions—not only for himself, but for the entire nation)," Castro added.
The Vice President has previously said that the government could easily send aircraft to bring Filipinos back to the country, citing the efforts they made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Related Tags

Middle East conflict Sara Duterte Claire Castro OFWs
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