The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will double its efforts in delivering public service following the recent dip in the performance and trust ratings of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly in Luzon and the Visayas, according to OVP spokesperson Atty. Ruth Castelo.
In a press conference on Wednesday, August 6, Castelo acknowledged the results of the latest survey but assured the public that the OVP remains focused on its mandate.
“We, of course, respect the survey, regardless of the source, kung saan po galing yung survey na yan. Okay lang po sa atin, that is their findings. And of course with that, kung totoo man yun o hindi, we have resolved to do better for the Office of the Vice President,” Castelo said.
She added that the Vice President continues to be involved in the OVP’s initiatives despite her limited public appearances in recent days.
“The Vice President herself also has resolved to work even harder than we are all working now. So pagbutihin po natin lalo ang serbisyo na ibibigay natin sa taong bayan,” she added.
When asked whether Duterte would now prioritize Luzon and Visayas, given the survey dip, Castelo said the OVP’s programs will continue to have a national scope.
“Survey or not, survey or no survey, pareho lang po ang trabaho natin,” Castelo emphasized.
“It's all in a day's work kung ano po yung mga kailangan naming gawin, yun lang rin po ang itutuloy natin. Of course, mag-e-extra effort tayo ngayon because of that survey,” she said.
On the other hand, Castelo issued a statement in response to former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s claim that Duterte and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo are friends — a claim he linked to Robredo’s silence amid Duterte’s ongoing impeachment case.
“But if it’s true, I’m sure [VP Sara Duterte] will get a lot of useful tips from former Vice President Leni Robredo,” the OVP spokesperson noted.
Trillanes previously claimed in a media interview that Robredo had no plans to surrender former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if she had won the 2022 presidential election.
Trillanes further alleged that Senator Bam Aquino was among those who requested a delay in the issuance of Duterte’s ICC arrest warrant, fearing it could negatively impact their election bids.
Despite her physical absence from recent public engagements, OVP emphasized that VP Sara Duterte remains actively engaged in the office’s operations, regularly contributing ideas and identifying areas for improvement across various programs.
