MALACAÑANG has pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticism of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s presence at a drug destruction event, reminding her that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, did the same during his time in office.
On Thursday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro addressed Duterte’s remarks suggesting that Marcos was merely engaging in a “photo op” when he attended the burning of seized illegal drugs in Capas, Tarlac.
Castro noted that in 2020, then-President Duterte also attended a similar event in Trece Martires, Cavite, where he witnessed the incineration of ₱7.51 billion worth of dangerous drugs.
Presenting this to reporters, Castro emphasized that such attendance is not unprecedented and was also done under the Duterte administration.
Just a day prior, President Marcos oversaw the destruction of ₱9.48 billion worth of narcotics at the Clean Leaf International Corporation facility in Capas City.