MANILA, Philippines – Itinanggi ni Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro na sinabi niyang nagtungo si Vice President Sara Duterte sa Kuwait nang walang travel authority.
“Definitely, we have no mention of her traveling to Kuwait,” ani Castro sa isang panayam nitong Sabado, Agosto 9.
Iginiit ng Palasyo na sumagot lamang siya sa tanong kung nasaan si Duterte na sinabing wala siyang impormasyon sa mga panahong iyon.
“We were only asked last Saturday before we went to India that the vice president would be traveling to Kuwait. So we didn’t say anything, we don’t have any confirmation about that because we don’t know anything about that,” paliwanag ni Castro.
“I hope those who are asking the vice president will also be responsible so that the vice president doesn’t become a source of fake news because she answers without listening to what we said,” dagdag pa niya.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Duterte na hindi niya napanood ang briefing ni Castro ngunit sumagot lamang siya sa tanong at sinabing ang Office of the President ay gumagawa ng mga kwento tungkol sa kanyang byahe abroad.
“There is no truth that I went to Kuwait without a travel authority,” ayon naman kay Duterte.
Dahil dito, sinabi ni Castro na dapat ay pinakinggan muna ng Bise Presidente ang briefing bago ito sumagot sa tanong.
“Although she said in her interview that she didn’t see or hear anything we said, but still, she made negative accusations against the Office of the President and said that we were making up a story,” ani Castro.
Nang tanungin naman kung may impormasyon ito na humiling si Duterte para sa travel authority patungong Kuwait, tumawa lamang si Castro sabay-sabing:
“Just wait and see. Wait and see, ask if she will be traveling this August. Ask the Office of the Vice President.”
Handa rin umanong mag-isyu ng travel authority ang Office of the President kung hihilingin ni Duterte.
“Why not issue a travel authority? We will say it again, if the travel authority is not issued, she will create a story saying that this government is a dictator because his freedom of movement is being restricted,” aniya.
“So if he plans to travel to different countries again, that is up to her,” dagdag pa. RNT/JGC
