Manila, Philippines (October 19, 2025)— Tensions continue to rise between the Office of the President and the Vice President as Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for her statements casting doubt on the integrity of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
In a strongly worded statement, Undersecretary Castro criticized the Vice President’s remarks, calling them “baseless and destructive” and aimed at undermining the credibility of those investigating alleged corruption within government projects.
“Kaawa-awa ang mga taong parte ng gobyerno pero hindi nakakatulong sa bayan. Mas lalong kaawa-awa ang mga inihalal bilang public servant pero puro haka-haka lang ang sinasabi para lang makapanira,”
— said Castro, in a pointed message directed at the Vice President.
Castro also noted that VP Duterte has yet to present concrete evidence to support her accusations, dismissing her statements as “stitched-up stories” meant to mislead the public.
She went on to question the Vice President’s motives, suggesting that Duterte might be trying to divert attention from possible issues that could surface in the ICI’s ongoing investigations.
“May kinatatakutan ba siyang mabunyag sa ginagawang imbestigasyon? Bakit pilit niyang sinisiraan ang ICI?” Castro asked.
Defending the commission, Castro emphasized that ICI’s members are composed of independent experts with no political affiliations, asserting that they are “individuals of integrity who cannot be swayed by political attacks.”
“Ang mga miyembro ng ICI ay puro eksperto, may integridad, at hindi mga politiko. Hindi sila basta-basta matitinag ng paninira,” she said.
Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the necessity of the ICI, claiming that the Office of the President already has the authority and resources to conduct its own investigations into corruption. She also criticized the creation of the commission, alleging that it could be used to control the public narrative surrounding corruption issues.
“Nagbukas sila ng ICI para kung anuman ‘yung investigation report ng ICI, ‘yun na ‘yung official na kwento ng nangyaring korapsyon… at ‘yun ang i-feed nila sa mga tao,” Duterte said in an interview.
As the exchange of statements continues, the controversy surrounding the ICI has highlighted deepening political rifts within the current administration. Despite the tension, the Palace insists that the commission will continue its work “without bias and in the interest of transparency and accountability.”