Palace to Sara Duterte: If you don’t like namecalling, start with yourself

August 26, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Malacanang on Wednesday told Vice President Sara Duterte to take a long, hard look at herself if she does not like ad hominem attacks and name-calling.

This was after Duterte slammed the name-calling during the Senate’s impeachment trial against her.

“Kung ayaw makarinig ng ad hominem, mag-start din po sa mga taong nagsasalita ng masasamang, worst o mga masasamang mga pag-describe sa kapwa tao. Siguro dapat magsimula kay Bise Presidente na maging magalang din sa pananalita para hindi rin naibabalik sa kanya,” Castro said in a press briefing.

Duterte did not name names, but was apparently alluding to private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia, who called the Vice President the mastermind of a scam. Senator Raffy Tulfo called former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta of the Office of the Vice President “stupid.”

The Palace official said they do not tolerate ad hominem attacks. Castro added that names like “mastermind” and “scam” were not conducive when used on a specific person.

She said such terms should not be directed at a particular person.

Castro rejected Duterte’s claims that the impeachment complaints against her are baseless, noting that the prosecution panel presented strong evidence.

“Mas lalong naipakita ang ibang ebidensiya kung saan ang Bise Presidente, ang siyang may alam mula sa pagwi-withdraw ng pera, mula — hanggang sa paggastos, hanggang sa pagbibigay ng report,” she added.