Palace: PH colors turning ‘white’; black more suited to previous admin

ALLIES In a political campaign ad posted by re-electionist Sen. Imee Marcos on her Facebook page on Monday, she and Vice President Sara Duterte list the problems ailing the country. (Screengrab from the Facebook page of Senator Imee Marcos.)

[Updated April 15, 2025, 3:18 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — “Papunta na po sa paputi. Konting kula na lang, medyo maputi na.”

(It’s already getting whiter. Just a bit more washing and drying in the sun, and it’s already a bit white.)

This was how a Palace official described the country’s “color” under the current administration as a rebuttal to Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Imee Marcos’ claims that the current color of the country is black due to problems that the nation is facing as the reason, including crimes and injustice.

READ: VP Duterte cites trust in Imee Marcos in ‘ITIM’ campaign ad

In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked about Malacañang’s reaction to the two officials’ campaign advertisement video released on Monday.

In the video, Duterte also endorsed the senatorial bid of Sen. Marcos.

Castro also said: “Hindi perfectly white katulad ng aking sinabi, pero doon po patungo ang kasalukuyang administrasyon.”

(It’s not perfectly white like what I said, but that’s where the current administration is heading.)

She further disputed the claims of Duterte and Sen. Marcos in their video that the country is mourning over the spread of hunger and criminality in the country.

‘Black’ more applicable to previous administration

In the briefing, Castro took a jab at the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It was thought to be a 2022 campaign ad because it described the previous administration’s era more than anything else in the said campaign ad,” Castro said in Filipino.

“So, if we say that the color is black now, maybe we could better describe the previous administration as extremely dark, and now things are starting to brighten under the current administration. It may not be completely white yet, but it’s heading in that direction,” she added.

It is also not true the country is suffering from hunger and crime, as shown by data from government agencies overlooking these matters.

“First of all, they mentioned something about hunger. Let us remember that, based on records, the poverty incidence actually went down in 2023 — to 15.5 percent from 18.1 percent in 2021,” Castro said, citing data from the National Economic and Development Authority.

“And they’re talking about crime — let’s remember that there were also statistics released, and these were supported some time ago by Senate President Chiz Escudero, showing that the crime rate today is lower compared to the previous administration,” she also said.

Sen. Marcos’ statement regarding the alleged lack of justice also did not sit well with Castro, who said families of victims of purported extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration are rejoicing for the justice they might soon achieve.

“Even with just these points, many are already saying that little by little, things are being brought to light,” said Castro.