Malacañang on Thursday dismissed the claim of Office of the Vice President (OVP) Spokesperson Paolo Panelo that Vice President Sara Duterte is prepared to assume the presidency should President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. resign.
During the September 17 press briefing, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro questioned whether the claim should be taken seriously.
“Kaya ba nila? Kaya ba nila agad-agad na puwedeng i-resign ng Pangulo? Ayun lang po yung ano? O, normal at natural ito sa mga kaalyado at alagad ng bise presidente, pero kung kakayanin niya sa ngayon na pumalit kay Pangulong Marcos Jr., seryoso ba ito?” Castro said.
Asked whether the Palace takes the statement seriously, Castro replied: “Kahapon ko pa po sinabi, it is absolutely delusional.”
Her remarks came after Panelo said the Vice President was ready to take over should Marcos leave office.
The Palace has repeatedly rejected calls for Marcos to resign and dismissed suggestions that Duterte could immediately succeed him under the current circumstances.
