Malacañang fired back hard on Friday against Vice President Sara Duterte’s bold claim that politics fueled President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order to investigate PrimeWater services.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro did not mince words. “We do not expect any kind or supportive remarks from the Vice President in favor of the President,” she declared during a press briefing.
The tension sparked when Duterte suggested the probe was a politically motivated attack targeting senatorial candidate Camille Villar. The Villar family owns PrimeWater, adding fuel to the fiery accusations.
“Malamang, dahil lahat naman ng galawan ngayon ng administrasyon ay dahil sa politika… Wala na akong nakita na ginawa ng administrasyon na ito para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan, kundi lahat ay pag-atake lamang sa politika at sa mga taong hindi nila kayang takutin at hindi nila kayang bilhin,” Duterte said. She painted a grim picture of an administration focused more on political battles than national progress.
But Castro dismissed this defense as a familiar refrain from the Vice President, insisting that the investigation is legitimate and necessary.
Adding another twist, Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas clarified that Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar remains firmly part of the administration’s slate for Eleksyon 2025. Simultaneously, the group affirmed support for Marcos’ directive to probe PrimeWater.
Today, May 2, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) officially kicks off the investigation, following the president’s orders.
PrimeWater has yet to respond to requests for comment, leaving many watching closely as this political drama unfolds. Will the probe reveal genuine concerns or deepen political divides? The nation waits with bated breath.