First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (left), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (center), and Vice President Sara Duterte. Photos from the official Facebook pages of Marcos and Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his “working relationship” with Vice President Sara Duterte will not be affected despite the stinging remarks of his wife, First Lady Liza Marcos-Araneta, against his 2022 running mate.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro, the President also said Duterte would keep her post as Education Secretary.
Marcos’ pronouncements followed a controversial interview with the first lady, who expressed enmity toward Duterte over the latter’s behavior during a January rally in Davao City where the vice president’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, called President Marcos “bangag,” a slang term for a drug user.
“It will not affect our working relationship with the Vice President, Secretary of Education. I think that she also understands, as a wife, how the first lady feels when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” he said.
READ: Liza Marcos admits snubbing Sara Duterte: ‘Bad shot na ’yan sa akin’
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niyang masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ‘yung mga nagsabi ng kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ‘yung isyu,” he added.
(But VP Sara and I will talk about it. She should not take it too hard, she was not the one who said something. Probably it’s easy to iron out all the issues.)
READ: Sara shuns Liza’s ‘personal feelings’; opts ‘private talk’ with Bongbong
Several lawmakers and groups have also questioned Duterte’s capacity as Education Secretary, with some calling for her resignation.
But Marcos said: “Any of the cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ‘yung trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday.”
(Any of the cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they do not do their jobs. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they cannot do it, if they get sick, just say it and you will be replaced. If they are inept or corrupt, you will be removed. Inday is not like that.)