The gloves are off

Last Friday, Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio said she will “show our government officials how to command” about flood issues after Typhoon Carina dumped rains on Metro Manila causing widespread flooding. She also urged the administration to fund infrastructure projects addressing flood control. This is Carpio’s way of saying “I can do things better than you.” She did not stop there. She said “Leaders should not be motivated by cash, cocaine or champagne. And, most certainly, leaders should not be made to hold champagne glasses.”

While she did not mention anyone in particular, it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to figure out who she was alluding to. Carpio resigned from President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet last June as tension between the two political families heated up. You will recall her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte and his son, Mayor Sebastian Duterte lambasted Marcos Jr. accusing him of being an addict and demanding he step down from office. This was followed by a call for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines which was hilariously ignored.

Lawmakers responded to the vice president’s statements saying the past administration had six years to improve and implement flood control projects and yet nothing was done. So, it seems rich that she would show how it is done. She should have said that to her father when he was in office. Her stint as Education secretary was also scored for several issues like classroom shortages and salary increases for teachers that were not resolved. Even students’ proficiency levels remained one of the lowest under her watch. And now she is asking for a ton of money for her office in the 2025 budget. Lawmakers would do well to scrutinize the reason for such a large budget.

It is clear now that she is no longer a member of the Cabinet, the gloves have come off. She did not attend the last SONA, even having the gall to appoint herself as the designated survivor and has begun to criticize the administration. Team unity is kaput. As she makes all these statements, her most recent net satisfaction rating has dropped to its lowest level since 2022. This is quite telling. The people are seeing just how much of a team player she isn’t. Although she is not considered the opposition by any stretch.

It remains to be seen how else Sara Duterte Carpio will criticize and call out the supposed failures of this administration. Local elections will be held next year, and we can already see the two political families preparing for that. So the hits will just keep on coming.