House leader to VP Sara: Heed father’s advice to get out of politics

Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo from the House of Representatives of the Philippines’ Facebook page. August 28, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should heed the advice of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to “get out of politics” as soon as possible, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said on Sunday.

READ: VP Duterte on leaving politics: I need to answer to Filipinos first

This came after the Vice President revealed on Saturday that she had already tasked someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed.

Libanan said the Vice President lacks both “the gumption and the grace required of a national leader.”

“She is clearly unlike her father. It would appear that she makes crucial judgments and issues utterly reckless pronouncements without any preparation or thoughtful consideration,” he said.

READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace

“We strongly urge the Vice President to listen to her father’s counsel for her to step away from politics before it’s too late,” he added.

Former President Duterte made the remark during a press conference in Davao City last November 8.

“Si Inday (Sara), pasalamat ka na lang sa Diyos na ang tatay mo naging presidente, ikaw naging vice president. Bihirang-bihira yan, bihira sa isang pamilya. Hindi lahat ng pamilya sa Pilipinas… pasalamat na lang tayo. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics,” he said.

(Inday, just be thankful to God that your father became president and you became vice president. That’s very rare for one family. Not all families in the Philippines experience that… let’s just be grateful. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics.)

He also urged his daughter to focus on other pursuits, such as earning a living through her profession or running a business.