Vice President Sara Duterte (left) and Senator Imee Marcos. Photos from Inday Sara Dutere FB page/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos defended Vice President Sara Duterte, who was criticized for leaving the country amid a calamity.
Duterte and her family left the country early Wednesday morning while many areas were grappling with the devastation caused by the effects of Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the fortified southwest monsoon.
“Matagal ng plano ‘yun at hindi naman niya alam na may bagyo. Pambihira naman,” Marcos said in an interview in Manila on Thursday, July 25.
(That had been planned a long time ago, and she didn’t know that there was a typhoon.)
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Despite her absence, Duterte’s office was still the first to extend assistance to calamity-hit areas, according to the senator.
Metro Manila is one of the areas severely hit by torrential rains as Carina enhanced the prevailing southwest monsoon, locally termed habagat, resulting in massive floods and landslides.
“Palagay ko talagang nakatutok naman sila,” Marcos said, referring to the Office of the Vice President.
(I think they are really focused.)
Asked if she had an idea where Duterte went, Marcos said: “Hindi ko alam eh, personal naman yata ‘yun na pagpapahinga.”
(I don’t know, maybe that’s her personal time for relaxation.)
READ: Imee Marcos reiterates all-out support for Sara Duterte
Marcos remains supportive of the Vice President despite the seeming rift between the Duterte family and the senator’s brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In January this year, Duterte’s brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, asked President Marcos to resign if he does not have love and aspirations for the country.
Dutertes’ father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has also been critical of President Marcos.
Just last month, the Vice President resigned from President Marcos’ Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Education without giving her reasons.
NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.