Vice President Sara Duterte and Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos. INQUIRER/PPA POOL photos
MANILA, Philippines — Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos broke his silence over Vice President Sara Duterte’s tirades against his family, saying she “crossed the line” and describing her behavior as a “bizarre temper tantrum” towards the dead.
Rep. Marcos called out Duterte on Tuesday, days after Duterte threatened to dig up the body of his grandfather, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., if the political attacks on her continue.
READ: Sara warned Imee: I’ll dig up Marcos Sr.’s body
The lawmaker also took notice of Duterte’s remarks about trying to behead his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
READ: VP Duterte says she daydreamed ’cutting off’ Marcos’ head
“For all this time, I have held my tongue out of respect for the Vice President, given the mandate she was given and the responsibility which her office holds. However, as a son, I cannot stay silent while she threatens to exhume a former president and behead an incumbent one,” Rep. Marcos’ statement read.
“Besides, her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified by such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living,” he added.
According to Rep. Marcos, his father did not say anything against Duterte that could be construed as even a mild rebuke of her outbursts.
“He even advised me to withhold my disappointment and refrain from making a statement. However, one must draw the line at some point and it’s frankly long overdue,” he added.
In a press briefing last Friday, Duterte was asked if she thinks President Marcos has forgotten that it was her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who allowed the burial of Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
According to the Vice President, she told the President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, about her threat to exhume the body of Marcos Sr.
“I don’t know. But once, I actually told Sen. Imee, I told her, if you don’t stop, I will dig up your father, I will throw him into the West Philippine Sea,” Duterte said.
“One of these days, I would go there, get your father’s body, and throw it to the West Philippine Sea,” she added.
Rep. Marcos said that while “going ballistic” might have been the “self-therapy” that Duterte “prescribed for herself,” the public should be reminded not to take their mental health for granted.
“Above all else, I sincerely hope she is okay. As such, I still wish the Vice President well. Ultimately, her success, like the President’s, will be the success of our nation as a whole. May she find the peace of mind and mental clarity that seems to be eluding her,” he added.
Marcos Jr. was the running mate of Vice President Duterte. However, recent political developments have shown that the Uniteam tandem has broken up.
Duterte’s statements have been criticized by other lawmakers. On Monday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said that if he were Sen. Marcos, he would no longer meet with Duterte because of her threat to exhume the remains of Marcos Sr.
READ: Sen. Imee Marcos should cut ties with VP Duterte, says solon
Last Sunday, House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khongkun urged Duterte to take a “psychological assessment” following her “deeply alarming” threats against the President and his late father.
READ: Sara Duterte should seek ‘psychological assessment’ – lawmaker