FILE PHOTO: Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo from Inday Sara Dutere FB page
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the Philippine government and two senators are not happy about it.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel offered a succinct response to Duterte’s critiques when he was asked to comment on the matter.
“Sana nagbigay siya ng kontra-Sona,” Pimentel told reporters in an ambush interview.
(She could’ve given a counter-Sona.)
In her strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, Duterte criticized the government for supposedly allowing Filipinos to remain hungry due to public officials who deceive people. She likewise said that the Philippines, being a free country, should not bow down to foreign entities such as the International Criminal Court.
READ: Sara Duterte slammed for criticisms of government
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, meanwhile, said disagreements between the country’s top two officials send the wrong message to international communities.
“It’s a really sad development. What has been happening is that the number one and number two top positions if they are not united doesn’t send a very good signal internationally. Syempre nagkakaroon ng doubts on our political stability if the top two officials are not united or don’t have a very good relationship,” Ejercito said in a press conference on Thursday.
(Of course, there will be doubts on our political stability if the top two officials are not united or don’t have a very good relationship.)
“Its a sad development na umabot at humantong sa ganito ang relasyon ng ating pangulo at pangalawang pangulo. I’m hoping that they would still be able to repair or improve the relationship,” he added.
(It’s a sad development that the relationship between our President and Vice President ended up like this. I’m hoping that they would still be able to repair or improve the relationship.)
READ: Marcos-Duterte alliance shaken as battle lines drawn
But Ejercito said he still believes that the Philippines still have a “good government,” noting that it is only facing lots of challenges. In the end, he admitted to hoping that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not take Duterte’s words negatively.
“I’m hoping the President will not take it in a negative way, he should take it with a grain of salt and make it a challenge to make things done faster. Marami pang hamon, marami pang problema pero kailangan may resulta na in the near future,” said Ejercito.
(I’m hoping the President will not take it in a negative way, he should take it with a grain of salt and make it a challenge to make things done faster. There are still lots of challenges, there are still many problems but we should see results in the near future.)