Vice President Sara Duterte claimed that the Philippines no longer has sufficient funds, citing a supposed directive from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) requiring government offices to account for their savings, prompting a sharp response from Malacañang.

During an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, on May 5, Duterte responded to a question from an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) asking whether the country still had money left.

“Wala na (There’s nothing left),” Duterte said, adding that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had received a memorandum directing agencies to account for their savings so the DBM could determine the remaining unused funds across government offices.

“Actually, nakatanggap ang aming opisina ng memo sir na bilangin namin ang savings ng opisina namin kasi gusto makita ng DBM kung magkano ‘yung savings ng lahat ng offices ng government. (Our office received a memo instructing us to count our savings because the DBM wants to see how much savings all government offices have),” Duterte said.

Duterte also warned about what she described as a “triple whammy” of rising fuel costs, a weakening peso, and soaring inflation, stressing the need to help the poorest Filipinos to prevent worsening social conditions.

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Meanwhile, Duterte also expressed support for young lawmakers and administration critics, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste and Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco Barzaga, saying she admired their courage in speaking out despite possible threats and political pressure.

“Pareho kami, pareho tayong lahat na nararamdaman tulad ng mga nararamdaman nila (We are the same, we all feel the same way they do),” Duterte said.

“We applaud their courage to speak up kahit na alam nila na babalikan sila ng administration o hindi man in cases, posibleng mga threats or mga iba pang pananakot (even though they know the administration might retaliate against them, or in some cases, they may face possible threats or other forms of intimidation),” she added.

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro defended the administration’s economic response measures and criticized Duterte for allegedly being detached from ongoing government programs.

Speaking in Cebu on Wednesday, May 8, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already ordered preparations for assistance and repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East as early as February following tensions in the region.

“Unang putok pa lamang po sa Middle East, February 28, nag-utos na po ang Pangulo kung paano matutulungan at mare-repatriate ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino na mga OFWs sa Middle East (On the very first strike in the Middle East on February 28, the President immediately gave instructions on how to assist and repatriate our fellow Filipinos who are OFWs in the region),” Castro said.

“Unang araw pa lamang po 'yan. Habang ang Bise Presidente ay nasa ibang bansa noon (That was on the very first day. Meanwhile, the Vice President was abroad at that time),” she added.

Castro added that the government had also mobilized assistance for transport workers, including tricycle drivers, public utility vehicle operators, and motorcycle taxi drivers.

She cited existing fuel subsidies, the TUPAD emergency employment program, and the creation of the UPLIFT initiative to monitor and extend aid to vulnerable sectors.

Castro also took aim at Duterte’s travel schedule.

“So 'yun po kasi ang nagiging problema sa isang opisyal na lagi pong naka-bakasyon. Hindi po niya nalalaman kung ano po ang nagiging programa ng gobyerno. (That is the problem with an official who is always on vacation. They do not know what the government’s programs are),” she added.

The Palace official noted that while the administration was focused on the ongoing ASEAN Summit, Duterte was again abroad.

“Sa kasalukuyan po, tayo po ay abala sa ASEAN Summit. Ang Pangulo ay abala sa ASEAN Summit. Pero ang Bise Presidente ay naka-bakasyon muli (At present, we are busy with the ASEAN Summit. The President is occupied with the ASEAN Summit. But the Vice President is once again on vacation),” Castro said.

The Vice President is visiting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in detention while facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).