TWO members of the Young Guns bloc in the House of Representatives on Sunday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to go through a psychological examination after she said that she had imagined cutting off the head of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Duterte made the statement in a press conference on Friday.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun expressed deep alarm over the vice president’s remark.
Vice President Sara Duterte let out a mouthful against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his capability to run a government in a two-hour press conference in her office in Mandaluyong City on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
“No decent person will think, more so make, this kind of statement,” Khonghun said in Pilipino.
“There needs to be a thorough psychological assessment to determine whether she is still fit to serve the country in this critical position,” he said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V echoed Khonghun’s sentiments.
“Ang ganitong uri ng marahas at nakakatakot na mga pahayag ay hindi katanggap-tanggap mula sa kahit sino, lalo na sa isang nakaupong bise presidente. Malinaw na may malalaking katanungan tungkol sa kanyang estado ng pag-iisip at emosyonal na kalagayan (These violent and scary statements are not acceptable from anyone, especially a sitting vice president. It is clear that her mental and emotional state is questionable),” Ortega said.
“We urge the Office of the Vice President to consider seeking professional help for Vice President Duterte, as this behavior is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for our nation’s leadership,” he said.
During the almost two-hour news briefing on Friday, Duterte said she daydreamed about decapitating the President.
Duterte also said she once told Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s elder sister, that she would exhume the remains of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos and scatter them in the West Philippine Sea.
The body of the elder Marcos was transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016. It was former president Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president’s father, who allowed Marcos Sr. to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016.
Duterte also said the Marcos administration failed to address inflation and food security.
Senate President Francis Escudero said on Sunday that Duterte’s remarks were unbecoming of the second-highest official of the country.
Escudero surmised that the vice president was airing her frustrations about allegations being raised against her.
He said he understood where she was coming from but that she must be more circumspect in her statements issued in a public setting.
The House of Representatives is investigating the alleged misuse of public funds by the Office of the Vice President.
Escudero said public officials, regardless of their positions, should treat their office with utmost respect and avoid public pronouncements that could end up hurting the very institution they represent.
He remained optimistic that the two highest leaders of the country would reconcile soon.
WITH PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
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