Vice President Sara Duterte debunked claims that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez influenced her decision to run as vice president in the 2022 national elections, saying that it was Senator Imee Marcos, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sister, who persuaded her.
“There was no Speaker Romualdez in the picture. And it was Senator Imee Marcos who eventually persuaded me to run as Vice President — and it was a decision sealed only after President Bongbong Marcos agreed to the conditions I set before running for VP,” the vice president said in a statement.
Duterte issued a statement on Wednesday night in response to Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, who ostensibly stated that Romualdez had a significant role in her decision to run for her current office.
She said it is an insult to thousands of groups and individuals who incessantly implored her to reconsider an earlier decision not to join national politics.
“To say that he “tremendously helped in pushing for” my Vice Presidential bid is acutely inaccurate,” she said.
Duterte said Barzaga may have been misinformed.
“Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. was obviously badly informed or made to believe a lie,” she said.
“Meanwhile, a person who cannot distinguish between attack and humor has no place in politics — especially if one fails to understand that political bickering is just a facet of democracy and should not be used to equate with governance. On the one hand, how the recent political developments have become an opportunity for sycophants is quite amusing,” the vice president added.
Meanwhile, Duterte reiterated that the administration of Marcos is stable and strong and had her all-out support and the support of the majority of the Filipino people.
It is unclear what caused the falling out between Duterte and Romualdez.
It can be recalled that last month after Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was removed as Speaker-in-Chief of the House of Representatives and replaced by Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr, Duterte immediately left the Lakas-CMD party.
Romualdez served as Duterte’s campaign manager during the 2022 national elections.
