Malacañang has slammed Vice President Sara Duterte anew in relation to her recent personal trip to Australia, particularly her calling the administration as stupid in questioning whether her recent trip was indeed personal or official.
“Ang kakulangan po sa kaalaman sa batas, sa ethical standards ay hindi po maikukubli sa pagmumura o pang-iinsulto (The lack of knowledge of the law and ethical standards cannot be hidden behind profanity or insults),” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Tuesday, July 1.
Castro has been insisting that Duterte must report her accomplishment to the people after claiming that she was still working during her personal trip in Australia.
Duterte, for her side, has also been reiterating that she has no obligation to tell the public about her personal trip, maintaining that public officials, who are on leave for personal trips and did not use the government’s money, do not need to disclose anything to the public.
“Simple lang naman po, bakasyon o trabaho. Siya naman po ang nagbanggit na trabaho, nagtatrabaho not on a holiday. So, kapag nagtrabaho, dala ang posisyon, dala ang bandera ng Pilipinas, may official functions (It’s simple, it’s either a vacation or work. And she said it herself, that it was work, that she was working and not on a holiday. So, if it was work, then the position is carried, the Philippine flag is carried, and there are official functions),” Castro argued.
The Palace official also cited Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“[P]ublic office is a public trust,” Castro said.
“So, dapat ipalaam ano ang naging magandang resulta sa pagtatrabaho. Kung walang mai-report baka, baka walang natrabaho (So, there should be a report on the positive outcomes of the work done. If there’s nothing to report, perhaps no work was actually done),” Castro added.
The PCO executive also cited President Marcos’ practice of fulfilling his obligation to provide the public his post-trip reports, saying that whenever he leaves the country, he brings back good news and strengthened relationships with various leaders.
“Isa dito ay ang pagsagip sa buhay ni Mary Jane Veloso dahil sa magandang relasyon sa Indonesia; ang pagpapauwi, pagpapabalik ng dating mambabatas na si Arnulfo Teves; pati na po ang mabilis na pagpapabalik kay Alice Guo; at sa Japan, inaangat ang turismo ng Pilipinas – iyan po ang trabaho na dapat ipagmalaki kung talagang nagtrabaho (One example is the rescue of Mary Jane Veloso’s life due to strong relations with Indonesia; the repatriation of former lawmaker Arnulfo Teves; also the swift return of Alice Guo; and in Japan, efforts to boost Philippine tourism — these are accomplishments that should be proudly reported, if it was indeed work being done),” Castro said.