Sara on marcos Jr.: We’ve reached point of no return

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines —  Vice President Sara Duterte declared yesterday that nothing can mend the strained relations between her and President Marcos, which have reached “the point of no return.”

Duterte made the pronouncement at a press briefing following a visit in Isabela City, Basilan to distribute relief goods as part of events marking the anniversary of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“I believe we have reached the point of no return,” Duterte said when asked if there was still a chance to mend her relations with Marcos.

Duterte said the harassment against her and her office was a clear indicator that the Marcos administration is out to remove her as vice president.

“It is clear that it’s like they are really going after me. They really want to remove me from the position,” she said.

“They really made their threats against me even before the incidents in the House of Representatives. The threats were all documented and (directed) to the Office of the Vice President personnel and my family. (Speaker) Martin Romualdez really wanted to become vice president, and he does not know the congressmen and senators do not want Martin Romualdez to become the vice president. He does not know people do not want Martin Romualdez to be the president. Unfortunately, this is not understood by Martin Romualdez and that is the problem,” Duterte added.

‘Try and impeach me’

With a looming impeachment becoming more apparent, Duterte dared lawmakers and her critics to file an impeachment complaint against her.

“They can always try to do an impeachment. They can go ahead and squander government money to have the Vice President impeached, if that’s what they want – just to cover up the shortcomings and lies of the administration and its unfulfilled promises,” Duterte told reporters.

“And then, let’s see. If I get impeached, then that’s my end,” she added.

VP rejects new team

Duterte also said she would refuse any police personnel that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) handpicked to replace her current security detail under the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

Duterte said amid security concerns, she has tapped “friends” who were making arrangements for her security detail in case “we really encounter problems with the AFP, particularly the PSC,” referring to the Presidential Security Group.

Duterte also stressed that the order that created the VPSPG provides that it would be a detachment of the AFP and should not have police officers.

“The law that created (the VPSPG) is to protect the President and his family and the Vice President and his family, and others. So, the PSC is a command under the AFP, there are no police officers there. They’re all from the AFP,” she told reporters.

She also scored the AFP and the Philippine National Police for being “remiss” in their duties to protect the her, citing their “inability” to determine existing threats to her and her family’s life despite having intelligence funding.

“Their narratives keep changing. First, they said there were no longer AFP personnel (in my detail) and only police remain. Now, they’re saying there are AFP personnel but will be replaced by police officers,” she said.

Reschedule NBI probe

Duterte also asked the National Bureau of Investigation to reschedule her appearance for a subpoena the agency issued over her remarks about having President Marcos killed if she gets killed.

Duterte said she needs to prioritize supporting the Office of the Vice President’s officials and employees on Friday when the House committee on good government resumes its inquiry into the OVP’s confidential fund spending.

However, Duterte branded the subpoena as an opening salvo to the Marcos administration’s supposed playbook against its opponents, citing the case of dismissed Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Duterte added that the OVP would be filing charges against the PNP for kidnapping and robbery over the scuffle last weekend at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, where her staff members are currently confined. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Neil Jayson Servallos