President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Vice President Sara Duterte in this file photo taken during the oath-taking ceremony in Cebu. (File image from BBM / Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — A political analyst said it will be too soon to conclude that there is a rift between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
This view is amid the ongoing feud between the chief executive and the latter’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to political analyst Edmund Tayao, a strong indication of the pair’s continued partnership is how Marcos continues to appoint Sara as the country’s caretaker whenever he leaves the country.
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“If there is already a rift between the president and the vice president, why would the president still put in charge of the government the vice president in his absence?” Tayao told INQUIRER.net.
He emphasized that this dynamic is somewhat new, especially compared to previous administrations where the incumbent vice president was elected from a party different from the party of the president.
READ: Sara Duterte is part of admin’s stand vs China on WPS – Marcos
He cited the case of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“Even if [former President Arroyo] had a vice president elected along with her, it’s not consistent that former Vice President Noli de Castro was always put in charge in her absence,” said Tayao.
“But in [Marcos and Sara’s] case, the Vice President always is asked to be a caretaker in the absence of the president,” he pointed out.
“So, if that is not an indication of an understanding between the two top leaders of the government, I don’t know what is,” he observed.
Tayao also said Sara should be distinguished from her father.
“You have to take note that the people surrounding the former president, while some of them were supportive of [Sara], the Vice President has her own people,” he explained.
The feud between Marcos and former President Duterte has gotten worse in recent weeks, especially after it was revealed that Duterte supposedly entered a pact with China.
The elder Duterte supposedly entered to an agreement not to repair or reinforce the BRP Sierra Madre or the Philippine military outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal during his administration.
While Sara has yet to speak on the matter, Marcos himself claimed that Sara is conforming with the government’s official stand against China’s aggressive and intrusive behavior in the West Philippine Sea, as a member of his administration.