House leaders from across the political spectrum made clear that they were not amused with Vice President Sara Duterte’s offensive remarks against the President and his family during her Friday press conference.
“It’s Vice President Duterte, not President Marcos, who has failed as a leader. She mismanaged public funds and let the Department of Education (DepEd) fall apart under her watch,” Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales pointed out.
“The country’s disastrous performance in the PISA, showing a five- to six-year lag in learning competencies, is a direct result of her failed leadership,” he added, referring to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment.
House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe did not hold back either, calling Duterte’s resignation from DepEd “the best decision she ever made.”
“Her departure saved the education system from further decline. Under her, DepEd was in free fall, and the entire education sector suffered,” Dalipe said.
They contrasted Duterte’s supposedly shoddy leadership with Marcos’ decisive management of the economy, international affairs, and his efforts to ensure that the public, especially the most vulnerable, receive much-needed assistance.
“President Marcos is delivering where it matters—stabilizing the economy, fighting inflation, ensuring food security, and making sure the most vulnerable are provided with vital support. That’s real leadership, not the evasion and incompetence we saw from Duterte,” Gonzales said.
Dalipe emphasized the President’s firm stance on the West Philippine Sea, praising his defense of Philippine sovereignty against Chinese aggression, in contrast to Duterte’s silence on the issue, which has bolstered suspicions that she is “pro-China.”
“President Marcos is standing up for our country on the global stage, especially against China. His diplomatic efforts are a clear mark of strong, decisive leadership,” he said.
The lawmakers slammed Duterte’s latest remarks as nothing more than a desperate attempt to deflect from her own failures.
“The Vice President’s attack on the President is pure deflection. She’s the one who failed as a leader, and now she’s trying to shift the blame. The Filipino people see through this,” Gonzales said.
“The truth is simple: President Marcos is leading with strength, while Duterte is running from accountability,” Dalipe said.
Even the Makabayan Bloc, which historically criticizes any Malacañang occupant, called Duterte’s rants a mere diversionary tactic to camouflage her alleged misuse of Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd confidential funds.
“Once again, Vice President Sara Duterte chooses to engage in theatrics and gossip, rather than facing the congressional committee to provide a transparent account of how the confidential funds of the OVP and DepEd were utilized,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.
“The Filipino people deserve to know how public funds are being spent, especially in the education sector, which is in dire need of resources. Instead of trash talk, we demand accountability and clear answers,” she added.
However, what lawmakers found especially unpalatable was Duterte’s facetious threat to desecrate the remains of the President’s late father.
“Ill-mannered and desperate,” was how House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) and 1-Rider party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, described the Vice President.
“Threatening to desecrate the dead just to shift the narrative is utterly unacceptable,” House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) said about the Vice President.
“The Vice President must answer the allegations against her, not stoop to such shameful actions,” Adiong said as she called Duterte’s tirade “a new low in public discourse” and “a direct attack on our cultural values.”
For his part, Gutierrez said the Vice President’s verbal attack against Mr. Marcos only reveals her desperation.
“This is pure desperation. Instead of facing the allegations head-on, VP Duterte resorts to vile threats. It’s a clear attempt to divert attention, but no amount of disrespect will cover up her mismanagement,” he pointed out.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “‘Desperately rude:’ House members condemn VP Sara on latest rants.”
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