Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said she has not spoken to her brother, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, following his call on Sunday for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign.
“I have not spoken to my brother about his remarks on the President’s resignation. I can only surmise that he is coming from a place of brotherly love, coupled with the common sentiment that I do not deserve the despicable treatment that I am receiving from some sectors within the circle of the President,” the vice president said in a statement.
This developed after an irate Mayor Baste delivered a profanity-laden speech during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum at the Grand Men Seng Hotel on Sunday.
“Mr. President, kung wala kay gugma ug aspiration sa imong nasud, resign,” the mayor said.
The mayor also said that the President is “lazy and lacks compassion.”
“Kaya we are unhappy. Because all of these things’ causing is oppressing the people kay giuna ninyo ang politika ug self preservation, instead magtrabaho,” Duterte said.
The mayor’s anger stemmed from the pressure of the Marcos administration on his sister, Vice President Sara, the People’s Initiative (PI) campaign to revise the constitution and the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe to his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, the vice president believes that the vote of the people is a grant of trust that she will work and serve only the Filipinos. Along with this confidence, she said is the confidence that she can handle any attack, black propaganda, slander, and other challenges thrown at her character.
“Hindi man madali, patuloy akong kumukuha ng lakas at inspirasyon sa tiwalang ibinibigay sa akin ng ating mga kababayan. I take heart from the confidence of the people in my ability to work and thrive in a pandemonium. Sa kabila ng lahat, hindi ako kailanman panghihinaan ng loob. I will stay true to my work at the Department of Education, unless the President says otherwise. Uunahin ko ang Pilipinas,” she said.
On the other hand, the vice president attended the Marcos-led Bagong Pilipinas Kickoff Rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila before joining the Hakbang ng Maisug prayer rally at San Pedro Square, Davao City on Sunday.
The vice president, did not don her trademark blue and green colored shirts but opted to wear an all white dress during the rally in Manila. She did not sit on the stage along with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but went to meet the Department of Education (DepEd) teachers who joined the rally.
In Davao City, the vice president gave a short message expressing her gratitude to the continued support of the Dabawenyos to her, her family, and her father.
“Malaki ang utang na loob namin sa inyo mga kababayan namin sa pagkakataon na ibinibigay ninyo sa amin na makapaglingkod sa ating pamahalaan at sa anim na taon na suporta ninyo sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Dako kaayo ang akong ika-pasalamat tungod sa bisan unsa man na nagapanghitabo sa politika ug sa akoang politika nga kinabuhi anaa gihapon mo sa akoang likoran ug hugot ug kusog gihapon kaayo ang inyohang suporta kanako. Daghan kaayong salamat,” she said.
After her speech, the vice president headed straight to Quezon Park fronting the City Hall and had a cozy chat with Senator Imee Marcos and Davao Occidental Representative Claude Bautista.
She also went down to greet the crowd who attended the prayer rally.
Senator Marcos was mum when the Davao media asked for her comments on the call of Mayor Baste for her brother to resign.
