MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said she has not spoken to her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, about his call for President Marcos to resign, which she stressed was more out of “brotherly love” to protect her from the shabby treatment she has been receiving from people within the Palace inner circle.
“I have not spoken to my brother about his remarks on the President’s resignation,” Duterte yesterday said in a statement.
“I can only surmise that he is coming from a place of brotherly love, coupled with the common sentiment that I do not deserve the despicable treatment that I am receiving from some sectors within the circle of the President,” she added.
Signifying a deepening rift between the Dutertes and Marcoses, Sebastian called on Marcos to resign, saying the President appears to have lost “love and aspirations” for his country due to his “laziness and lack of compassion.”
The Vice President said while she believes she is being attacked by “sectors within the circle of the President,” her resolve remains strong due to the “trust” of Filipinos.
“However, I believe that the people’s vote is a sign of trust that I will work and serve only the Filipinos. Along with this confidence is the confidence that I can handle any attack, black propaganda, slander and other challenges thrown at my character,” Duterte said.
“Even though it’s not easy, I continue to draw strength and inspiration from the trust our countrymen give me. I take heart from the people’s confidence in my ability to work and thrive in a pandemonium,” she added.
Duterte added that she would “stay true to my work at the Department of Education, unless the President says otherwise.”
‘Afraid of Speaker’
Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte blasted his colleagues for being afraid of Speaker Martin Romualdez, which he claimed was the first time it happened since he became congressman.?In Sunday night’s prayer rally against Charter change, the elder Duterte son alleged that in all his terms as representative it is only in the 19th Congress that he has seen lawmakers afraid of their leader.
“I was congressman under Alvarez (Pantaleon), Cayetano (Alan Peter), Velasco (Lord Allan), but it is only now that I have seen congressmen who are afraid of their Speaker. Why is it so?” Duterte said.
“Why would they be afraid? It may be because they are afraid they would be ousted like what they did with Arnie Teves at the ethics committee,” he said.
In August last year, the House of Representatives expelled Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. for disorderly behavior and violation of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives.
Duterte also lambasted PBA Party-list Cong. Margarita Nograles for alleging that he pocketed P51 billion of his congressional funds.
“You’re crazy. Can you find a bank that would release that kind of amount?” he said. — Diana Lhyd Suelto