VICE President Sara Duterte remains as Education secretary, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday amid suggestions that she be replaced after First Lady Liza Marcos expressed ill feelings for her.
The President said the First Lady’s feelings will not affect his working relationship with the Vice President and concurrent Education secretary.
“I don’t see the reason behind that,” the President said in an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro after a townhall meeting, when asked if Duterte would be replaced amid calls for her to be removed or for her to resign as Education secretary.
Marcos said Cabinet secretaries will be replaced only if they are unable to do their job, they do not know how to do their job, they are corrupt, or there are other reasons such as they are sick.
“Hindi naman ganoon si Inday. Hindi ganon si Inday Sara (Inday s not like that. Inday Sara is not like that),” he added.
The President confirmed that he is set to meet with the Vice President about the matter, but said there is nothing to patch up between them. He also did not say when their meeting will be.
Marcos also expressed confidence that the Vice President understood the sentiments of the First Lady, being a wife herself.
He added the First Lady is not from a political family and not used to criticisms or attacks, whether personal or over policy matters.
“First of all, my first reaction is, what a lucky husband I am that I have a wife na very protective sa akin na, kahit na, may nakitang hindi magandang sinabi tungkol sa akin, she gets very upset. We cannot blame her (First of all, my first reaction is what a lucky husband I am that I have a wife who is very protective of me, who, once she sees something bad said against me, she gets very upset. We cannot blame her),” he said.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto.
Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita (The First Lady, is not used to politics. Us, we are already numb to insults. She is not from a political family, maybe she still has to learn, to let hurtful and harsh remarks pass),” he added.
The First Lady, during a recent interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna, said she felt hurt over the Vice President’s reaction after her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called the President an addict. The elder Duterte later withdrew his remarks.
The First Lady has been giving the Vice President the cold shoulder and ignoring her since early this year
The Vice President on Monday said she would rather talk with the President as she said the First Lady’s sentiments have nothing to do with her position as the country’s second highest elected official.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua said his call for the Vice President to resign as Education secretary “out of decency or delicadeza” remains “because her being there is detrimental to education as a matter of accountability, character, integrity, and competence.”
“We will continue to hold her accountable for her failures as Vice President and DepEd Secretary. She is not exempt from being held accountable,” the administration lawmaker said in a statement. — With Wendell Vigilia
