VP Sara: No talks with Baste Duterte on call for Marcos resignation

Vice President Sara Duterte said Monday that she has not talked to her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, about his call for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to step down as chief executive.

Despite believing that the mayor’s dare was made only out of “brotherly love,” the Vice President revealed that she has been receiving “despicable treatment” from within Marcos’ circle.

“I can only surmise that he is coming from a place of brotherly love, coupled by the common sentiment that I do not deserve the despicable treatment that I am receiving from some sectors within the circle of the President,” Sara Duterte said in a statement.

Baste Duterte told Marcos to resign during a speech in Davao City on Sunday afternoon where local government officials and Duterte supporters were gathered to rally against the people’s initiative to push for Charter change..

“Mr. President, if you do not have love or have no aspirations for your country, resign,” Baste Duterte said.

“You are lazy and you lack compassion… All of these things that he is causing in oppressing the people. So there, he is putting politics first, their self-preservation of their political lives. They are not doing their jobs first,” he added.

Sara Duterte, meanwhile, also said that she will remain as Education secretary, unless stated otherwise by President Marcos.

“Sa kabila ng lahat, hindi ako kailanman panghihinaan ng loob (Despite all these, I do not lose hope). I will stay true to my work at the Department of Education, unless the President says otherwise,” she said.

The Vice President also said that she will overcome any attacks and “black propaganda” thrown against her.

“Hindi man madali, patuloy akong kumukuha ng lakas at inspirasyon sa tiwalang ibinibigay sa akin ng ating mga kababayan [it may not be easy, but I will draw strength and inspiration from the trust the Filipinos give me]. I take heart from the confidence of the people in my ability to work and thrive in a pandemonium.”

Sara Duterte, who attended the Bagong Pilipinas campaign kick-off rally on Sunday but left before Marcos arrived, flew to Davao City in order to speak at the event, where she was also seen in the company of Senator Imee Marcos, the President's sister. —KG, GMA Integrated News