Vice President Sara Z. Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Two more lawmakers have called out Vice President Sara Duterte over her criticism of the government, with one reminding her not to mix religion with politics.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Wednesday that he is disappointed with Duterte’s statements before the Muslim community, which he said leans towards divisiveness.
Adiong was referring to the Vice President’s message to the Muslim community on Wednesday where she criticized the government for allowing Filipinos to remain hungry, supposedly due to officials who deceive people.
“The Vice President’s statements have a tendency to politicize religious affiliations. We Muslims do not deserve that, we are part of this grand march towards progress and not some separate pitiable entity.” Adiong said.
“This kind of rhetoric only sows division and distracts from the real work that needs to be done.”
“Vice President Duterte should roll up her sleeves and join us in working towards a better future for all Filipinos regardless of what areas they’re from or which religious group they belong to,” he added.
In a separate statement on Thursday, Manila 6th District Rep. Joel Chua wondered why Duterte is positioning herself as a champion of the masses “all the while having nothing real and concrete to show for in terms of true results.”
According to Chua, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) should not get a free pass when its proposed budget for 2025 is tackled at the House of Representatives.
“When the OVP budget is tackled soon at the House, she should no longer be given a free pass. Her OVP budget must be scrutinized for every spent and not spent. No more and never again shall the VP not be held to the same level of scrutiny as other public officials during the budget hearings,” Chua said.
“She should be held liable for every peso of the OVP budget. She has been good at dishing out sweet promises and riddles, but if you would ask for details she has been evasive, resorts to comedy, drama, but lacks substantive explanations,” he added.
Chua went on to ask how Duterte has made her mark as Vice President, noting that she has not issued statements or made her presence felt when it was needed — like when the Philippine Coast Guard was reeling from China’s aggressive actions and when Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon whipped Luzon.
“Feeling opposition, but has she and the OVP accomplished enough to lift the lives of marginalized Filipinos? Where was she when the Chinese Coast Guards were puncturing the rubber boats of Filipinos, and when Filipino fisherfolk were being hit?” Chua said.
Duterte on Wednesday issued a statement thanking Muslim tribes from Davao City for offering to secure her and her family, after she complained about the withdrawal of 75 police officers assigned to secure her.
According to Duterte, at this point, it is not her security but the prosperity of the country which takes paramount concern.
But several lawmakers asked Duterte to stop politicking as the police officers withdrawn from her security will be used to augment patrols and operations in Metro Manila.
Last July 30, Chua stressed that the number of her security staffers was only reduced and not depleted.
Former lawmaker Barry Gutierrez, who served as OVP spokesperson under former Vice President Leni Robredo, said that Duterte’s reduced security detail was still three times more than that of Robredo.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez who heads the House committee on public order and safety also believes that Duterte’s security detail is excessive, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that the vice president has 400 military officers securing her.
Similarly, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V said that Duterte should address her absence instead during the height of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon’s onslaught.
Both lawmakers urged Duterte to respond to other issues like the confidential funds lodged with the OVP in 2022 when there were no allocations made when the budget was originally crafted.
The OVP, when pressed for comment by INQUIRER.net and other media outlets, said it is awaiting the response of the Vice President.