VP Sara: Liza Marcos' feelings unrelated to my mandate as gov't official

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday acknowledged the resentment of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos toward her, but said that the latter’s personal feelings have nothing to do with Duterte's mandate as the country’s second highest government official.

Sara Duterte said this in a video message, following the controversial interview of the First Lady where she admitted having ill feelings toward the Vice President after her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. "bangag" or high on drugs.

“Mga kababayan, 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 isang opisyal ng pamahalaan,” Sara Duterte said.

(As a human being, First Lady Liza Marcos has a right to feel resentment and anger. But her personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.)

Duterte said that she will have a private discussion with President Marcos regarding the matter.

“Upang makausad tayo, iiwan na natin sa isang pribadong pag-uusap sa pagitan lamang namin ni Pangulong 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. ang mga susunod na hakbang,” she added.

(In order for us to move forward, I will leave this to a private conversation between me and President "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., for the next steps.)

In an interview on the "Tune in kay Tunying" online program posted Friday, Liza Marcos said the Vice President was a "bad shot" for her "unless she says sorry or whatever."

This, after the First Lady said she took offense when she saw Sara Duterte laughing over the former President's remark at a rally in Davao City in late January to oppose efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Rodrigo Duterte had alleged that Bongbong Marcos was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a claim already denied by PDEA.

“For me, nasaktan ako because my husband will do everything to protect you. You ran together ‘di ba—sama sama tayong babangon muli,” Liza Marcos said, referring to Sara Duterte—who was the running mate of her husband during the 2022 elections.

(I was hurt because my husband will do everything to protect you. You ran together during the elections, right—we will rise together.)

“Pupunta ka sa rally, tatawagin ‘yung Presidente mong ‘bangag,’ ‘di ba, you’re going to laugh? Tama ba ‘yan? Even Leni [Robredo] never did that,” she added.

(You went to a rally, then the President gets called bangag, and then you’re going to laugh? Is that right? Even Leni [Robredo] never did that.)

The Philippine National Police had also said it has not seen any document or list stating that the President is involved in illegal drugs.

Sara Duterte, who also currently serves as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), said that there are other big problems that the government should focus on and solve, including the proliferation of illegal drugs again in the country.

“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at iba pang mga bilihin at ito ay mas nagpapahirap pa sa dinaranas na gutom o kawalan ng sapat na pagkain ng mahihirap nating kababayan. Nagbabadya rin ang kakulangan ng supply ng tubig at kuryente, habang talamak na naman ang ipinagbabawal na droga,” she said.

(The price of food and other commodities continues to increase and this makes the situation of our poor countrymen worse as they suffer from hunger or lack of enough food. There is a looming problem with water and electricity supply, and there is also the proliferation again of illegal drugs.)

“Samantala, hindi pa rin natatapos ang banta ng kriminalidad, terorismo, at insurhensiya sa ating bansa,” she added.

(The threat of criminality, terrorism, and insurgency in our country is also still not over.)

Even after the First Lady’s remarks, President Marcos and Sara Duterte were seen showing friendly behavior toward each other at the graduation ceremony of the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite on Friday.

The two leaders were spotted exchanging smiles before Marcos bussed Duterte on the cheek. They also sat next to each other on the stage and were also seen conversing. —KG, GMA Integrated News