Senator Imee Marcos (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte (right) (Photo from Senate PRIB and the official Facebook page of Inday Sara Duterte)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos on Friday defended Vice President Sara Duterte who recently took a swipe at the government and the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.Sen. Marcos noted that Duterte’s sentiments reflect the aspirations of all Filipinos.
“I think VP Sara’s sentiments are similar to the aspirations of all Filipinos,” Senator Marcos told reporters in Filipino in an interview.
‘And here, there are swipes at the administration, but I think it can’t be helped because there are still areas for improvement.”
In a long statement issued last Wednesday, Duterte made a thinly-veiled attack against the Marcos administration.
“The Philippines should be led by people with concern and the ability to uphold a clean government for the country’s prosperity,” Duerte said in Filipino in her statement.
“But the Philippines now is led by people who are not sincere in doing their sworn duty,” she added.
Duterte criticized the Marcos administration for having no flood control master plan and its handling of the healthcare system, among others.
She also slammed the administration for “following” what she called the interference of foreign entities like the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The vice president’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is among the accused in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
Despite the vice president’s remarks, Senator Marcos still considers her a friend.
“Of course, I don’t want to quarrel with anyone,” Marcos said when asked if she still considered Duterte a friend.
“Gusto ko sana Uniteam forever pero mukhang wasak na yan eh, talagang nakakasama ng loob,” she also said,
“I would like to have a UniTeam forever, but it looks like it’s broken, I feel so bad about it,” she said, referring to the 2022 Marcos-Duterte election alliance.
“I hope there’s still something that can be done.”