Malacañang on Wednesday said it would be a “waste of time” to respond to Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest remarks against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., saying her accusations against the administration have no factual basis.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro criticized Duterte’s admission that she did not listen to the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday.

Castro said the SONA is a constitutional duty through which the President reports the administration’s accomplishments and outlines plans for the country.

She said failing to respect the SONA also meant failing to respect the Constitution and the country’s institutions.

“Ano po ba ang nangyayari sa isang tao kapag hindi po inaalam ang sitwasyon ng kanyang bansa, kung ano ang programa ng pangulo? Walang alam (What happens when a person does not bother to know the state of the nation or the President’s programs? They remain uninformed),” she added.

Castro urged the public to remain discerning and seek the truth, warning that people who remain uninformed are more susceptible to manipulation.

“May mga tao na ang nais ay manatiling walang alam, mangmang ang mga kababayan. Mas madaling manipulahin ang mga taong walang alam (Some people want Filipinos to remain uninformed. Those who lack knowledge are easier to manipulate),” she said.

“Obligasyon po nating alamin ang katotohanan at huwag tayong sumunod sinuman na nag-uudjok na manatili tayong mangmang sa katotohanan. Mabubulag po tayo diyan. Obligasyon po nating alamin para hindi tayo manatiling mangmang sa katotohanan (It is our duty to know the truth and not follow anyone who encourages us to remain ignorant of it. Otherwise, we will be blinded. It is our obligation to seek the truth so that we do not remain uninformed).”

Asked about Duterte’s remarks questioning the administration’s fulfillment of campaign promises, including the PHP20-per-kilo rice initiative, Castro said the statements were all lies, noting that the subsidized rice is already being sold through Kadiwa centers, benefitting many Filipinos.

Castro also rejected Duterte’s claim that Marcos failed to fulfill a personal promise, referring to the Vice President’s previous statement that she had wanted to use the presidential helicopter to travel home every night so she could return home to be with her children.

She likewise brushed aside Duterte’s allegation that the current administration is becoming a dictatorship and her claim that she was uncertain whether the 2028 national elections would push through, saying it was likewise a “waste of time” to respond to such assertions.

The Palace official also slammed Duterte’s claim that incidents of school violence reflected weak leadership, saying the government and the Philippine National Police had responded swiftly to recent incidents and continue to take the necessary steps to address the incidents.

“Mas maganda po talagang alamin kung anong programa ng Pangulo para hindi po tayo nabubulag sa katotohanan (It is really better to understand the President’s programs so that we are not blinded to the truth),” Castro said. (PNA)