Vice President Sara Duterte has accused Malacañang of dispatching personnel from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague to conduct what she described as a “sham welfare check” on her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Malacañang neither confirmed nor denied the allegation and instead pointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as the proper agency to address it.

“Ang statement po na ‘yan ng bise presidente ang tutugon po dyan ay ang DFA,” said Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro.

Castro said the Palace would only respond to the Vice President’s separate claim that the government had failed to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are detained, distressed, or neglected.

“’Yan po ay malaking kasinungalingan,” she said, stressing that migrant workers’ needs are being met.

She explained that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has established Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in countries with large Filipino populations, each headed by a labor attaché.

“So lahat po ng mga kinakailangan or pangangailangan ng mga kababayan sa ibang bansa, especially the OFWs ay tinutugunan ng ating gobyerno at ‘yan din po ang nais ng ating pangulo. Lahat ng pangangailangan ng mga OFWs, ng mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa dapat matugunan agad-agad,” she added.

According to Castro, DMW records show that all requests for help have been addressed. “Ayon sa record ng DMW, lahat ng humihingi ng tulong sa kanila 100% nilang natutugunan at may records po sila,” she said, noting that the agency also has a quick response team ready to coordinate with local police if rescues are needed.

“Kaya ito pong binabanggit ng bise presidente na walang naitutulong sa mga OFWs, it is another fake news,” she emphasized.

When asked whether ordering a welfare check on the former president without informing his relatives would constitute a breach of law or protocol, Castro again deferred to the DFA.

“Muli, hayaan po natin ang DFA na tumugo dito para sila din po ang makapagbigay kung may katotohanan po itong ibinibintang ng bise presidente,” she said.