MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:49 p.m.) — Vice President Sara Duterte said that the personal sentiments of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos against her are not covered by her mandate as a public servant.
The vice president, who is also the country’s Education secretary, said this in a video message on Monday, days after the first lady revealed in an interview broadcaster Anthony Taberna, that she now views Duterte negatively.
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“Bilang tao karapatan ni unang ginang Liza Marcos na makaramdam ng sama ng loob at galit, subalit, ang kanyang personal na damdamin ay walang kinalaman sa aking mandato bilang opisyal ng pamahalaan,” Duterte said in the video message.
(As a human being, it is the right of First Lady Liza Marcos to feel hurt and angry, however, her personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.)
The vice president also said that she would have a private talk with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Upang maka-usad tayo, iiwan na natin sa isang pribadong pag-uusap sa pagitan lamang namin ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. ang mga susunod na hakbang,” she said.
(To move forward, we will leave the next steps to a private conversation between President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and myself.)
In the interview released last week, Araneta-Marcos said that Duterte “crossed the line” after she was spotted attending an anti-Charter Change prayer rally in January and laughing her father’s (former President Rodrigo Duterte) remarks about Marcos being “stoned.”
“You are getting suweldo from the government, you are supposed to be the alter ego,” the first lady said.
(You are receiving a salary from the government, you are supposed to be the alter ego.)
“That’s not right. That’s entitled politics. You’re in the government. You’re the vice president. Bad shot na ‘yan sa akin (that's bad shot for me), unless she says sorry,” she added.
The Duterte patriarch previously claimed that the president was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. However, the agency debunked the claim of the former president.
In response, Marcos said that Rodrigo was suffering the effects of the use of fentanyl. The drug accusations between the two further fueled speculations of the falling out between the Dutertes and Marcoses.
When asked relationship with the Dutertes last April 15, Marcos responded: “It’s complicated.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, a lawmaker asked the vice president was asked to resign from her post at the Department of Education, saying that she cannot serve the interests of her family while their allies challenge the authority of the president.
"The Vice President should show some decency by resigning from her DepEd post at the very least. Her family unleashed a barrage of insults and attacks directly to the President and yet she does nothing and is still enjoying the perks of being part of the official family,” Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, 3rd District) said in a statement.
"She cannot have the best of both worlds by being a fence sitter while her family and their allies challenge the authority and mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr while having little to show for in terms of substantive results at the Department of Education, where she is Secretary,” he added.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story referred to the January gathering in Davao City as a prayer rally to support Charter Change. This has been updated to reflect that it is an anti-Charter Change prayer rally.