First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (left) and Vice Pres. Sara Duterte (right) (Photos from INQUIRER files/INDAY SARA DUTERTE’s FACEBOOK page)
MANILA, Philippines — First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was just being protective of her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., when she aired her sentiments in an interview, the couple’s first-born son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, said.
In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Lakas-CMD coalition signing on Wednesday, the younger Marcos said that unlike him and his father, the First Lady is not as accustomed to mudslinging in politics — hence, her reaction.
“You know, well, to tell you the truth, ako sanay na ako eh (I’m used to it). I’ve been in politics long enough to know that that’s how the game works. And my dad, same thing naman. It’s nothing new,” Rep. Marcos told reporters in Makati City.
“There have always been accusations hurled. There have always been mudslinging. So, that’s nothing new,” he reiterated.
“My mother is not quite as used to it as we are, as the both of us. So, you know, her reaction, from that interview, I think that (what) you’ve all seen is, I guess, one of a wife who is being protective of her husband. So, I think we can sympathize in that sense,” he added.
The lawmaker was referring to the First Lady’s admission in an exclusive interview with Tune-in Kay Tunying that she has been snubbing Vice President Sara Duterte.
Her actions come, following the vice president’s attendance at a prayer rally in Davao last January 2024 where the President was called a ‘drug addict.’
READ: Liza Marcos admits snubbing Sara Duterte: ‘Bad shot na ’yan sa akin’
READ: VP Duterte attends Davao prayer rally after Bagong Pilipinas rally in Manila
It was Vice President Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who verbally attacked Marcos.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte — the vice president’s youngest brother — also called on Marcos to resign if he does not have aspirations for the country.
A day later, the Chief Executive shot back by saying that it might be the fentanyl that is making the older Duterte make such statements.
READ: Marcos shoots back: Ex-president Duterte takes
When asked for his Mother’s Day greeting to his mother, Rep. Marcos said he hopes the First Lady will no longer get too angry about political issues.
“That I hope hwag siya magalit nang masyado, not to be so mad anymore. Like I said, I think, naninibago lang siya. And she’s not used to being exposed to this kind of publicity, so I understand naman where she’s coming from,” he said.
(I hope she does not get too mad anymore, not to be so mad anymore. Like I said, I think she is just not accustomed to this.)
READ: House reps find Duterte’s tirades offensive, a serious attack – secretary general
The Marcoses and the Dutertes forged an alliance for the 2022 national elections, with the incumbent president and vice president running together as a team.
However, observers have noted that cracks appeared within the Uniteam since former president and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was removed from her senior deputy speaker post.
Many consider Arroyo to be the Vice President’s ally and mentor.
After this event, Vice President Duterte resigned from Lakas-CMD, the political party of Marcos’ cousin, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Then, during the crafting of the 2024 national budget, the House ultimately decided to remove the confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education — two offices being headed by the vice president — to fund projects in the West Philippine Sea.
The older Duterte then frowned on this move, claiming that the House is the most rotten government institution.