Malacañang has dismissed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s accusation that the Marcos administration is weaponizing the law against political opponents, insisting that the government is merely enforcing the law and allowing the justice system to take its course.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Duterte claimed the administration was using the law and the bureaucracy against its political opponents, arguing that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte was intended to stop her from running for president in 2028.

In a statement on Friday morning, July 10, the Palace Press Officer challenged the Duterte camp to answer the allegations against them instead of attributing every legal action to politics.

“Gusto ba nila na hindi kikilos ang gobyerno, hindi susundin ang sinasabi ng batas at hayaan na makaalpas at makaligtas ang mga naaakusahang gumagawa ng krimen laban sa bayan (Do they want the government to do nothing, disregard the law, and allow those accused of committing crimes against the nation to escape accountability)?” Castro asked.

“Bakit hindi sagutin nang diretso ang pag-aakusa at hindi puro bintang na pinupulitika sila (Why not answer the accusations directly instead of constantly claiming they are being politically persecuted)?” she added.

Speaking to Filipino vloggers in The Hague, where former president Rodrigo Duterte remains detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Davao City mayor also cited the arrests of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor as proof that the government was targeting its critics.

“Sila ’yung nasa kapangyarihan. Kung sino ’yung ’di sumunod o ayaw sumunod sa kanila, paparusahan talaga nila ’yan (They are the ones in power. Whoever does not follow them or refuses to do so will surely be punished),” Mayor Duterte said.

Castro said the Duterte camp has repeatedly avoided responding to the substance of the allegations confronting the Vice President.

“Nadinig na ba nila na itinanggi ng Bise Presidente ang isyung paglulustay ng pondo ng bayan at ang pag-amin niyang kumakausap siya ng killer para pumatay (Have they heard the Vice President deny the allegations involving the misuse of public funds or her admission that she spoke to someone she described as a killer to carry out a killing)?” she said.

Vice President Duterte is currently on trial before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court after the House of Representatives impeached her earlier this year over allegations that include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and the alleged misuse of confidential funds. She has denied any wrongdoing and described the impeachment as politically motivated.

The Vice President also previously admitted making what she described as a “conditional” statement that she had instructed someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged plot against her succeed, insisting the remarks were taken out of context.

Castro maintained that the Marcos administration had exercised its authority within the bounds of the law.

“Ang kapangyarihan sa panahon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay ginagamit nang tama at nang naaayon sa batas, hindi tulad ng nakaraan (Under President Marcos Jr., power is exercised properly and in accordance with the law, unlike in the past),” she said.

The Palace official also took a swipe at the Duterte camp by referring to Sebastian Duterte’s widely reported altercation with court personnel during the implementation of judicial orders involving his father.

“Tandaan natin na ang pagsuntok sa sheriff na gumaganap lang sa tungkulin ang tunay na abuso sa kapangyarihan (Let us remember that punching a sheriff who was merely performing his duty is the real abuse of power),” Castro said.

Earlier this week, Malacañang similarly defended the arrest of Marcoleta, saying the Executive branch has no choice but to enforce valid court orders and expressing confidence that even the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo would respect the rule of law. The Palace has repeatedly maintained that ongoing legal proceedings against political figures are matters for the courts and independent constitutional bodies, not Malacañang.