Tunis:Malacañang questioned Vice President Sara Duterte's reaction to drug seizures in Southeast Asian countries, stating that she overlooked the Marcos administration's efforts to stop illegal drugs from entering the Philippines.

According to Philippines News Agency, Duterte had expressed shame over reports that the Philippines had become a destination for drugs seized in the region. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioned why Duterte reacted strongly to foreign drug seizures but not to local drug interceptions.

Castro highlighted recent drug seizures by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), such as the BOC's October 5 seizure of shabu worth PHP43.7 million and ketamine worth PHP20.7 million at Clark on October 6. Another case involved shabu hidden in machinery at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The PDEA reported that drugs seized regionally were headed for Mindanao and linked to the Golden Triangle, a well-known drug trafficking area in Southeast Asia. Castro also mentioned the 2018 magnetic-lifter case involving shabu, which was dismissed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte as speculation, despite PDEA's claims of shabu presence.

Castro emphasized that the administration has been transparent about its drug seizures and ongoing anti-drug operations.