Vice President Sara Duterte stated on Saturday that she believes her friendship with Senator Imee Marcos transcends politics, despite the ongoing conflict between the Dutertes and the Marcoses.
Speaking to the media in The Hague, Netherlands, the vice president affirmed that she and the senator remain friends to this day, with no issues between them.
“I would like to believe—I don’t know her side—but I would like to believe that the friendship is already beyond politics. Despite the unfortunate events, we still maintain open lines of communication. It boils down to two possibilities: either we’re pretending, or it’s truly beyond politics. I would like to believe that this friendship is beyond politics already,” Duterte said.
The vice president also expressed gratitude to Senator Marcos for initiating the Senate inquiry into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil napag-usapan siya sa loob ng gobyerno, hindi lang sa amin dito sa labas na nagra-rally,” Duterte remarked.
Meanwhile, Senator Marcos has conducted two Senate hearings regarding the arrest of the former president, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, for crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs campaign.
During the second hearing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Cabinet secretaries, and other key officials invited as resource persons failed to attend.
Marcos, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, criticized executive branch officials for skipping the second committee inquiry.
“May sikat na kasabihan, ‘Hidden truths are unspoken lies.’ Ang katotohanang itinatago ay kasinungalingan din, at mukhang ganoon ang nangyayari ngayon—sa pagtatago ng katotohanan gamit ang executive privilege at sub judice, nagmimistula tuloy na may cover-up sa mga nangyayari,” Marcos said.
