Sandro Marcos strikes back at VP Sara Duterte's tirades: 'She crossed the line'
Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte’s tirades against the Marcos family, saying that she has “crossed the line.”
In his statement released on his official Facebook page on Oct. 22, the congressman said that while he has opted to remain silent “out of respect for the Vice President,” he had to speak up when Duterte made threats to a former president, his grandfather Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and an incumbent one, his father Pres. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
“As a son, I cannot stay silent while she threatens to exhume a former president and behead an incumbent one. Besides, her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified from such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living,” Sandro wrote, referring to Duterte’s statements during her press conference on Oct. 18.
“Forget that the objects of her derisions are dear to me, but I would also be remiss in my responsibility as an Ilocano representative if I didn’t voice out my disdain at the abhorrent comments she so carelessly uttered,” the Ilocos Norte Rep. said. “I can ascertain that my emotions are shared not only by my kakailian in the north but across the country,” he added.
Sandro stressed that despite the tirades, his father, Marcos Jr., stayed silent, and even advised him to do so as well.
“However, one must draw the line at some point and it’s frankly long overdue,” he wrote.
“Going ballistic was perhaps the self therapy she prescribed for herself. But she crossed the line, leaving the civic and civil space in which disagreements can be rationally argued,” Sandro said,
He continued to say that the current situation is a reminder to not take mental health for granted. The presidential son also said he hopes the VP is okay.
He concludes, “As such, I still wish the Vice President well. Ultimately, her success, like the President’s, will be the success of our nation as a whole.”
“May she find the peace of mind and mental clarity that seems to be eluding her,” Sandro wrote.
This came after Duterte’s latest attack on the Marcos family, saying that the incumbent Marcos Jr. is not capable of ruling the country.
“I don't ever remember may na platform siya na sinabi kung anong gagawin niya sa bansang ito. ‘Di niya sinabi kung ano ang gagawin natin sa food security, wala siyang sinabi ano ang gagawin natin sa inflation na dadating,” she said, adding, “I don't ever remember him discussing kung anong gagawin sa problema ngayon.”
The vice president cited it as the reason for her resignation as the secretary of the Department of Education in June, which took effect in July.
“Kaya ako umalis sa administration, 'di ba? Hindi ko na gusto yung mga naririnig ko dun, yung mga nakikita ko don," she said, giving the current administration a very low rating of 1 out of 10.
The vice president also criticized Marcos for feeling "dismayed" when she denied their friendship in an earlier statement. Previously, Marcos said he was "a little dismayed to hear that she does not think we are friends" and that he feels he was "deceived" by her
In the same press conference, Duterte shared that she once warned Sen. Imee that she would personally dig up former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s body and throw it into the West Philippine Sea after she was asked to comment on the burying of the late Pres. Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
"Isang beses sinabihan ko talaga si Sen. Imee. Sabi ko sa kanya, 'Kung hindi kayo tumigil, huhukayin ko iyang tatay ninyo. Itatapon ko siya sa West Philippine Sea,'" Duterte said.
After the press conference, the palace declined to comment on Duterte’s comments about Marcos.
