In a heated press conference on Friday, Vice President Sara Duterte took aim at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he is leading the Philippines down a bad path. She even made a shocking threat about digging up the remains of Marcos’s father and throwing them into the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte, who worked with Marcos during their successful election campaign in 2022, expressed that she feels “used” and unhappy about how things have turned out. She said, “It’s not my fault that we are on this road to hell. That’s why I left the administration because I didn’t like what I was hearing or seeing.”
The relationship between the Duterte and Marcos families has become strained as they both seek support ahead of upcoming elections in 2024 and 2028. Sara’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, allowed Marcos Sr.’s remains to be buried in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in 2016, despite public backlash.
Sara told Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, about her plans to dig up Marcos Sr.’s remains. She said, “One of these days, I will go there. I will get the body of your father and throw it in the West Philippine Sea.”
Marcos’s spokesperson did not comment on Sara’s remarks. Meanwhile, she faces threats of impeachment from lawmakers, including Marcos’s cousin, Martin Romualdez. Sara resigned as education secretary in June after tensions between the families escalated.
She shared how her partnership with Marcos, called the “Uniteam,” was formed in 2021. Initially, she said she would not run for president but later decided to run for vice president after discussing it with her brother.
After winning the election, Sara wanted to help with national defense but was instead named the Secretary of Education.
She also expressed support for her team members who might face questions about the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) funds, saying, “If you do not want to attend, I will support you. If you want to attend, I will also support you.”
Some lawmakers criticized Sara’s attacks on President Marcos, claiming that her own leadership has failed. Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said, “It’s Vice President Duterte, not President Marcos, who has failed as a leader.” House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe added, “President Marcos is leading with strength, while Duterte is running from accountability.”
On the same day, around 50 leaders from different groups came together to support President Marcos at the Quezon Memorial Circle. They announced the creation of the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reform, which aims to advocate for programs that help the Filipino people and improve the economy.
