Malacañang on Monday rejected Vice President Sara Duterte's recent statement, which seemed to compare the potential fate of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to that of former Senator Ninoy Aquino Jr. upon his return to the Philippines.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro reminded the public that it was not to Aquino that Duterte compared himself, but to Adolf Hitler.
"Inihahalintulad ba ni VP Sara ang kanyang ama sa yumaong Ninoy Aquino? Parang hindi natin nadinig noon na inihalintulad ni dating Pangulong Duterte ang sarili niya kay Ninoy kung hindi kay Hitler," said Castro.
She quoted Duterte, who said he would be happy to slaughter millions of drug addicts in the Philippines, similar to what Hitler did to millions of Jews, adding that while Germany had Hitler, the Philippines has him.
"So napakalayo pong ipakumpara ang sarili o ikumpara ang dating Pangulong Duterte kay Ninoy Aquino na hindi nagkaroon ng anumang record ng mass murder or crimes against humanity," she added.
During a gathering with Filipino supporters in The Hague, Vice President Duterte addressed the risks her father might encounter upon his return to the country.
She shared that the 79-year-old Duterte intends to return home to focus on the midterm elections, where he is a candidate for mayor of Davao City.
"Pa, 'yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, 'yan din 'yung katapusan ng buhay mo. Magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka," the Vice President shared what she told her father.
Where VP Sara's remark came from: Possible threat?
Castro questions the origin of Duterte's comparison to Aquino and the alleged threats, raising questions about its validity.
She further mentioned that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have not yet received any evidence of the alleged threat against Vice President Duterte.
"So, saan lamang po ito nakukuha? Kailangan po natin kasi ng mga materyales, ng mga ebidensya bago po magsagawa ng mga ganitong klaseng statements," Castro reiterated.
