Malacañang on Friday, June 12, criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for calling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "walang hiya" (shameless), with the Palace spokesperson accusing the Vice President of hypocrisy and linking her allies to alleged efforts to destabilize the administration.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, in a statement, took particular issue with Duterte's use of the term against the President, saying it reflected the Vice President's own conduct.

"Ang Bise Presidente kapag walang script na binabasa, walang modo. Lumalabas ang totoong anyo (When the Vice President is not reading from a script, she shows no decorum. Her true character comes out)," Castro said.

Castro argued that the phrase should not be directed at Marcos.

"Ang salitang WH ay tamang description hindi sa Pangulong Marcos Jr. kundi sa mga alam nating murderer, may mga assassin na kinomomisyon para pumatay ng kalaban, sa mga nanakot ng mga tao sa bar, at sa mga gumagawa ng fake news laban sa iba para palitawing sila ang tama at makabayan (The term 'WH' is not a fitting description of President Marcos Jr. Rather, it applies to people we know to be murderers, those who commission assassins to kill opponents, those who intimidate people in bars, and those who spread fake news to make themselves appear righteous and patriotic)," Castro said.

"Sa salitang WH ay lumalabas na nilalarawan ni Bise Presidente ang pamilya nila (By using the term 'WH,' the Vice President ends up describing her own family)," she added.

Speaking to reporters in Davao City after Independence Day activities, Duterte denied claims that she wants to overthrow the Marcos administration through a People Power-style movement.

"Hindi ko gusto agawin 'yung posisyon ni Bongbong Marcos (I do not want to take Bongbong Marcos's position)," she said. "Gusto ko makita ng taong bayan hanggang sa dulo kung gaano ka walang hiya si BBM (I want the Filipino people to see until the very end how shameless BBM is)," she added.

Castro also said Duterte could not deny previously expressing a desire to remove Marcos from office, citing a speech the Vice President delivered in the Netherlands in July 2025.

"Noon pa niya nais patalsikin ang Pangulo sa pwesto at sinabi niya ito sa isang speech niya sa Netherlands noong July 19, 2025 na 'tayong lahat gusto natin mapalayas si BBM sa pwesto.' Hindi niya makakaila nang sabihin niya ito (She has long wanted to remove the President from office, and she said so herself during a speech in the Netherlands on July 19, 2025, when she stated, 'We all want BBM removed from office.' She cannot deny having said that)," Castro said.

She also criticized Duterte for allegedly portraying herself as uninvolved in political efforts against the administration.

"Huwag magpakaplastik at magbait-baitan (She should stop being fake and pretending to be nice)," Castro said.

"Huwag na siyang magkunwari dahil ang mga kaalyado niya ang nagpupursige sa isang destabilization. Kung ayaw niya talaga, siya ang pipigil sa mga kaalyado niya sa paghahasik ng lagim (She should stop pretending because her allies are the ones pushing a destabilization effort. If she truly does not want it, then she should stop her allies from sowing chaos)," she added.

The exchange came after Duterte reiterated that she has no intention of assuming the presidency through extra-constitutional means despite mounting criticism of the Marcos administration.

"Ako, I am the constitutional successor. I am the next in line ayon sa ating Constitution (I am the constitutional successor. I am the next in line according to our Constitution)," Duterte said.

She stressed that her oath as Vice President obliges her to uphold and defend the Constitution.

"Wala sa aking mga kamay ang pagsasagawa ng extra-constitutional means to overthrow the current administration at hindi ko din gusto 'yun (It is not within my hands to pursue extra-constitutional means to overthrow the current administration, nor do I want that)," she added.

Despite rejecting calls for a political uprising, Duterte delivered one of her strongest public attacks against the President to date.

Duterte also renewed allegations of corruption against senior government officials, including Marcos, after her Independence Day speech in Davao City.

"Nawawala din siya kapag 'yung mga matataas na opisyal ng ating pamahalaan, kasama na ang Pangulo, ay mala-sindikato sa pagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan (Freedom and sovereignty are also lost when high-ranking government officials, including the President, behave like a syndicate in stealing public funds)," she said.

The latest exchange highlights the continuing deterioration of relations between Marcos and Duterte, whose alliance delivered a landslide victory in the 2022 national elections but has since unraveled amid political disputes and public criticism from both camps.

Recent months have seen increased speculation about efforts by some groups to challenge the administration, although the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have said they have not validated any credible destabilization threat.

While Duterte maintained that any leadership transition must occur through constitutional processes, her latest remarks suggest tensions between the country's two highest elected officials are likely to intensify further as political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 elections continues. 

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