SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Vice President Sara Duterte delivered a scathing critique of the current state of the Philippines, calling it “dire, sad, and personally frustrating,” during a press conference on Wednesday.
Duterte confirmed she will not attend President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. She voiced concern over how the Philippines appears in the eyes of other nations, saying she feels embarrassed as a Filipino.
She also reacted sharply to criticism over her recent trips abroad, denying any misuse of public funds. “Personal travel doesn’t mean leisure or vacation. It simply means I didn’t use government money—but I’m still working,” she explained.
Duterte took a direct jab at the administration, using strong language to accuse officials of being “stupid” for misunderstanding her actions. “They’re either pretending not to understand, or they really are just stupid,” she said, adding she prefers not to explain her work because, “If they want to guess, good luck.”
In response to allegations that her family is pro-China, Duterte dismissed the claims and turned the focus on the Marcos administration’s foreign policy stance. “I’m not pro-any country. We need to strengthen our ties with all nations, not just China,” she said.
Duterte also criticized Marcos for prioritizing photo opportunities over substantive governance, particularly in the war on drugs. “It’s not the President’s job to be at every photo op of drug seizures and destruction,” she said, referencing Marcos’ recent appearance at a drug disposal event in Tarlac.
Malacañang has yet to issue a response to Duterte’s remarks.