VP Sara Duterte recently shared a bold statement, saying she once told Senator Imee Marcos that if attacks against her don’t stop, she would dig up the body of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throw it into the West Philippine Sea. This comment came during a press conference, where Duterte was asked if the current administration under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had forgotten that it was her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who allowed Marcos Sr.’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“I don’t know,” Duterte said, explaining the conversation. “One time, I told Sen. Imee that if it doesn’t stop, I’ll dig up your father’s body and throw him in the West Philippine Sea.”
This sharp remark follows Duterte’s accusation that President Marcos Jr., her running mate in the 2022 elections, doesn’t know how to govern the country. “The one sitting [as President] doesn’t know how to lead. Is that my fault?” she asked during the same press event. She pointed out that this was part of the reason why she resigned from her position as the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Duterte also provided details on how she became Marcos Jr.’s vice-presidential candidate in 2022. According to her, it was Senator Imee Marcos who asked her to run for vice president to help strengthen their team against their main opponent, then-Vice President Leni Robredo. Senator Marcos reportedly said that without strong support from the Visayas region, they would lose to Robredo. “We would lose to Leni if we can’t secure the Visayan vote,” Duterte recalled Senator Marcos saying during their conversation in late 2021.
