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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace: VP Sara should have helped government address gun violence if she had information

Palace: VP Sara should have helped government address gun violence if she had information

Published Jul 30, 2026 03:18 pm
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte (RTVM/Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte (RTVM/Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
If Vice President Sara Duterte had information about gun violence in the country, she should have helped the government—including her father's administration—address it, Malacañang said.
Reacting to the Vice President's recent remarks, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the second highest official in the country should have helped the current and the previous administrations address gun violence in the country if she truly has information about it.
In her speech before Filipino supporters in The Hague on July 29, Duterte argued that the deaths during former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs were not crimes against humanity, stressing that gun violence is rampant in the country.
To prove her point, she even claimed that hiring a gunman could only cost P5,000.
The Palace spokesperson questioned why the rampant gun violence in the country was not addressed during her father's time if she truly has information about it.
"Ang Pangulo po at ang administrasyon na ito ay kumakalaban po sa mga criminal acts, sa mga ginagawang krimen. Kung siya naman po pala ay mayroon ng kinalaman patungkol dito hindi po ba dapat siya ay tumulong para ito ay mabawasan or at least maibigay niya ang datos patungkol dito (The President and this administration are committed to fighting criminal acts and crime. If she truly has information or involvement related to this matter, shouldn't she help reduce it or at least provide the relevant information)?" Castro said in a Palace briefing on Thursday, July 30.
"Matagal na siyang opisyal, matagal ding namuno ang kaniyang ama bilang presidente – bakit kaya hindi ito nasawata kung totoo ang kanyang binabanggit patungkol dito (She has been a public official for a long time, and her father also served as president for many years. Why wasn't this problem addressed then, if what she is saying is true)?" Castro further questioned.
The Palace mouthpiece also pointed out that the Vice President "should have been the first to help" address gun violence.
"Dapat siya na ang nauna na ito ay pigilan at hindi i-promote ang pagkausap sa isang assassin para pumatay sa taong kaniyang kinaiinisan o sa taong siya ay galit (She should have been the first to help stop it, instead of promoting the idea of talking to an assassin to kill someone she dislikes or someone she is angry with)," Castro said.

Related Tags

President Marcos Vice President Sara Duterte Rodrigo Duterte gun violence ICC Claire Castro
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