MANILA — Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stirred controversy after likening Vice President Sara Duterte to the horror doll character “Chucky” when angry, a remark that quickly spread on social media.

In a media interview, Castro said, “Kapag galit si VP Sara, kamukha niya si Chucky. Nakakatakot talaga.” The comment drew mixed reactions online, with critics calling it disrespectful and unbecoming of a government official, especially when directed at the country’s second-highest elected leader.

Supporters of the Vice President condemned the remark, saying it demeaned Duterte’s position and trivialized her role. Others defended Castro, arguing the comment was made in jest and should not be taken seriously.

Political analysts noted that such remarks could further strain relations between Malacañang and the Vice President amid ongoing political tensions and controversies. As of press time, the Office of the Vice President had not issued an official response.

When Politics Sounds Like a Schoolyard Fight

This is not about one official. And it is not about one Vice President.

What should concern Filipinos is how often national leaders now speak like they are trading insults in a group chat rather than governing a country. Name-calling, mockery, cursing, and personal attacks have become disturbingly normal across the political spectrum. Palace officials do it. Opposition figures do it. Even top elected leaders are not immune.

This behavior cheapens public office. It turns governance into performance and policy into personality. When politicians resort to insults instead of arguments, it signals a lack of discipline, not strength. It also lowers the bar for public discourse, inviting supporters to mirror the same hostility online and offline.

Some will argue this is just “being real” or “speaking from the heart.” That excuse does not hold. Authenticity is not the same as immaturity. Passion is not a license for disrespect. And anger, no matter how justified, does not excuse unprofessional conduct from people entrusted with power.

Filipinos are dealing with rising prices, corruption scandals, disasters, and insecurity. What they see instead are leaders taking verbal swings at each other, distracting from real accountability and real solutions. It is exhausting. And it erodes trust on all sides.

This is not a question of loyalty to one camp or another. It is a question of standards. Public officials should be held to a higher level of conduct precisely because their words carry weight.

Politics does not need to be polite all the time. But it should at least be serious. Right now, too often, it is not.