VP tapped gov’t caretaker as Marcos flies to Vietnam

GOOD AFTERNOON, VIETNAM President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrive on Monday afternoon at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. During his two-day state visit, the President and his delegation will meet with their Vietnamese counterparts to discuss maritime, agriculture, and food security issues. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

President Marcos appointed Vice President Sara Duterte as the government caretaker in his absence before he flew to Vietnam on Monday afternoon for a two-day state visit, despite a widening rift between the leaders of the UniTeam coalition formed ahead of the national elections two years ago.

Duterte was among the officials who sent off the President at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. He was seen exchanging pleasantries with him before Mr. Marcos and his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, boarded the presidential plane.

During his predeparture speech, Mr. Marcos said his visit to Hanoi was aimed at reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between the two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states.

“Nearly 50 years have passed since we established relations with Vietnam, and I believe that we will usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation between our two countries,” he said.

The President and his delegation landed on Monday afternoon at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

‘Only strategic partner’

Mr. Marcos described Vietnam as the Philippines’ “only strategic partner in the Asean.”

During his visit, the President is expected to discuss joint maritime activities with Vietnamese leaders led by President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Vuong Dinh Hue, chair of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

“Maritime cooperation will be one of the cornerstones of the strategic partnership which we are going to forge, and we hope to strengthen this aspect during my visit to promote peace and stability in our region,” the President said.

Mr. Marcos will also meet with the business sector “to explore how we can further strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Vietnam.”

The President is also meeting with some of the 7,000 overseas Filipino workers based in Vietnam, primarily teachers and professionals, who, he said, were helping shape the minds of Vietnam’s future leaders.

Maintained a courtesy

In appointing Duterte as caretaker, Mr. Marcos maintained a courtesy he had consistently extended to the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte during his overseas trips since assuming the presidency.

However, his predecessor never did the same for Vice President Leni Robredo during his six-year term.

On Sunday night, the older Duterte unleashed a torrent of insults against the President, accusing him of being on a drug watch list, while his son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, called for Mr. Marcos’ resignation. (See related stories on Page A3.)

The Dutertes attended a rally in Davao City that rejected moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through a people’s initiative, seen by critics as a way to lift term restrictions on elected officials.

The Davao rally appeared to counter the kick-off event organized by Malacañang to launch the governance brand “Bagong Pilipinas” in Manila.

The Vice President and concurrent education secretary briefly attended the Bagong Pilipinas launch but was no longer around when the President arrived, as she was reported to have flown straight to the Davao rally. INQ