MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte “crossed the line.”
The son of President Marcos and grandson of the late president Ferdinand Marcos yesterday broke his silence about the scathing statements Duterte hurled against his family last Friday.
“Going ballistic was perhaps the self-therapy she prescribed for herself. But she crossed the line, leaving the civic and civil space in which disagreements can be rationally argued,” Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Sandro Marcos said in a statement sent to reporters covering the House of Representatives.
Sandro disclosed he could no longer bear the attacks against his family, even as “I have held my tongue out of respect for the Vice President, given the mandate she was given and the responsibility which her office holds.”
“However, as a son, I cannot stay silent while she threatens to exhume a former president and behead an incumbent one,” Sandro said.
“Her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified from such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living,” he added.
He expressed confidence that his sentiments are not limited to his family or to political allies, but to the entire country.
“I can ascertain that my emotions are shared not only by my kakailian in the north but across the country,” he said.
“Forget that the objects of her derisions are dear to me, but I would also be remiss in my responsibility as an llocano representative if I didn’t voice out my disdain at the abhorrent comments she so carelessly uttered,” he stressed.
To be fair to his low-key father, Sandro revealed the Chief Executive “advised me to withhold my disappointment and refrain from making a statement” but he said “one must draw the line… and it’s frankly long overdue.”
According to him, “the President had not said anything against her that can be remotely construed even as a mild rebuke against her tirades.”
The presidential son called on everyone to take care of their mental health after Duterte’s tirades.
“Let this be an opportune time to remind ourselves that we mustn’t take our mental health for granted and that above all else, I sincerely hope she is OK. As such, I still wish the Vice President well,” Sandro stated.
Sandro also wished Duterte success and “the peace of mind and mental clarity that seems to be eluding her.”
Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte governor and Sen. Imee Marcos’ son Matthew Marcos Manotoc defended his mother following the remarks of Duterte against President Marcos and his mother.
Manotoc said he was shocked after Duterte included Imee in her tirades.
“I’m very saddened by the recent statements of our dear VP Inday Sara Duterte. Most of all, I was shocked to hear that Sen. Imee Marcos was included as Sen. Imee has been a loyal friend and supporter to Sara for many years,” Manotoc said in his Facebook post on Monday.
“In my few interactions with VP Sara, she was always friendly and professional. It’s very disheartening to see her making things personal. As many say, this is just politics,” he added.
The governor quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“I hope VP Sara finds peace and we wish her well,” Manotoc said at the end of the Facebook post.
In her fiercest verbal attack to date, Duterte said President Marcos “does not know how to be president,” called him “Mr. Deception” and gave him a performance score of one on a scale of one to 10, the latter being the best.
Duterte also recalled warning Imee that if they continued their “attacks” on her family, she would dig up their late father’s remains from the Libingan ng mga Bayani and hurl his remains into the West Philippine Sea.
A ‘smile’ from Marcos
A smile was President Marcos’ only response when he was asked for his reaction to Duterte’s tirade.
Reporters tried to interview the President after the celebration of the Philippine Coast Guard’s 123rd anniversary in Manila yesterday.
As the President was about to leave the venue, a female journalist yelled the question to get his attention, prompting him to veer toward the members of the media.
When he was again asked about Duterte’s tirade about his capability as president, Marcos just smiled and walked away.
A male television reporter also tried to get a statement from First Lady Liza Marcos, who attended the anniversary as a PCG auxiliary vice admiral. She just granted some selfie opportunities and then left.
Malacañang has yet to issue a statement on Duterte’s fresh criticisms against the Marcos administration.
‘Imee turned cold’
Duterte may be losing the remaining member of the Marcos family she remains friends with after she revealed Imee had turned “cold” on her after last week’s press conference.
Lawmakers’ pleas to Imee to cut ties with Duterte may have been unnecessary as the Vice President’s tirades against the Marcos family last week reportedly “pissed Imee off.”
“After the presscon, I texted her (Imee). She was cold. She told a common friend that she was pissed at me and at BBM,” Duterte told reporters.
She added she told their common friend to talk to Imee and convince her not to be mad at her.
“Tell her to instead be pissed at Liza and Martin (Romualdez),” Duterte said, referring to the First Lady and the House Speaker.
The Vice President expressed doubts that she is still allied with Imee after the press conference, but she still considers her a friend as believed she did not attack the senator in her tirades.
Asked whether she believed the political divide created by the two families was rooted in personal differences, the Vice President retorted, “They were the ones to strike first.”
“They struck first because of envy and jealousy. They will be destroying our country over that,” she said. — Bella Cariaso, Neil Jayson Servallos, Alexis Romero