Former president Rodrigo Duterte during the PP7.51 billion worth of seized narcotics incineration in 2020.
PRESS Secretary Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday refuted Vice President Sara Duterte’s assertion that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to witness the destruction of illegal drugs in Tarlac was merely a “photo opportunity.”
During a press briefing, Castro countered the Vice President’s statement by highlighting similar actions taken by her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, during his term.
Castro presented media reports documenting former President Duterte’s attendance at a drug incineration event in Cavite in 2020, where P7.51 billion worth of seized narcotics were destroyed.
The Palace official’s response directly addresses the Vice President’s criticism of President Marcos’s actions. By showcasing the precedent set by the previous administration, Castro aims to demonstrate the continuity of policy and the long-standing practice of high-ranking officials witnessing the destruction of confiscated illegal drugs.
President Marcos’s recent visit to the Clean Leaf International Corporation in Capas City involved the incineration of P9,484,134,038.62 worth of illegal drugs. The exchange between the Palace and the Vice President’s office highlights the ongoing political dynamics within the current administration.
