BORONGAN CITY, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should heed the advice of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who had urged her “to get out of politics” as soon as possible, House of Representatives Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said on Sunday.
“We strongly urge the Vice President to listen to her father’s counsel for her to step away from politics before it’s too late,” Libanan, a 4Ps party-list representative, said in a statement.
“She is clearly unlike her father. It would appear that she makes crucial judgements, and issues utterly reckless pronouncements without any preparation or thoughtful consideration,” Libanan stated.
“The Vice President lacks both the gumption and the grace required of a national leader,” Libanan added.
Libanan was reacting to the Vice President’s declaration on Saturday that she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Malacañang to vow “immediate proper action”.
The Vice President told an early morning press conference that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed.
Earlier this month, the former President had called on his daughter, who has had a falling out with Marcos, to get out of politics.
“Si Inday, pasalamat ka na lang sa Diyos na ang tatay mo naging Presidente, ikaw naging Vice President. Bihirang-bihira yan, bihira sa isang pamilya. Hindi lahat ng pamilya sa Pilipinas… pasalamat na lang tayo. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics,” Duterte said, referring to the Vice President by her nickname, Inday Sara.
(Inday should be thankful to the Lord that her father became President and she became Vice President. That’s a very rare occurrence – it’s extremely uncommon for a family to experience something like that. Not every family has such an opportunity. We should just be grateful. Now, as quickly as possible, she should step away from politics.)
“Maghanapbuhay ka, negosyo, basta mabuhay ka lang [ng] mapayapa. Umalis ka na dyan sa pulitika. Huwag ka na mag-ambisyon, tutal vice president ka na,” Duterte added.
(She should focus on earning a living, running a business, and living peacefully. Politics isn’t for her. There’s no need for ambition—after all, she’s already the Vice President.)
The Office of the Vice President’s highly irregular use of confidential funds has come under intense congressional scrutiny amid Commission on Audit (COA) findings that disbursements were backed by questionable acknowledgement receipts.
The Vice President has maintained that she did not misuse her office’s confidential funds, and that the congressional inquiry is politically motivated. (PR)
