Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday that she was tipped to win the 2022 presidential election but ”gave it away” to pursue other plans.
”The presidency of 2022 was mine already. Nanalo na ako sa surveys, lahat ng tao solid na, united na for my candidacy. Pero I gave it away because I felt I had to do some other things other than being president of the Republic of the Philippines,” Duterte told reporters.
(The presidency of 2022 was mine already. I won in the surveys; the people were solid and united for my candidacy. But I gave it away because I felt I had to do some other things other than being president of the Republic of the Philippines.)
Duterte initially filed her candidacy for mayor of Davao City. She later changed her mind and decided to run alongside now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The vice president issued the statement in response to the claim of Zambales 1st District Representative Jefferson ”Jay” Khonghun that the current political conflict stemmed from her supposed ambition to become president soon.
Duterte has been under congressional scrutiny over her use of confidential funds and the budget of the Department of Education, which the vice president characterized as a form of ”political persecution.”
She did, however, confirm that she will be present at the next hearing of the House committee on the matter.
”Huwag nila ako i-gaslight into saying na ako ang dahilan ng kaguluhan na ito. Ang kaguluhan na ito ay nagsimula sa terrorism nila, sa harassment nila, sa threats nila sa mga personnel ng Office of the Vice President,” she said.
(They should not gaslight me by saying that I was the reason for this conflict. This conflict began with their terrorism, harassment, and threats against the personnel of the Office of the Vice President.)
Meanwhile, Duterte declined to comment on Marcos’ statement that he was not in favor of any attempts to impeach her since this would not benefit the lives of Filipinos.
She also declined to comment on Marcos’ seeming willingness to reconcile.
In a radio interview, Senator Imee Marcos said an impeachment proceeding against Duterte could be ”polarizing.”
“Watak-watak na nga tayo, nagiging Luzon versus VisMin tayo. Ang sagwa kasi laging naririnig ko sa tatay ko, laging sigaw niya talagang ‘isang bansa, isang diwa’… Sa ginagawa at lahat ng nangyayari, lalo na kung matuloy ang impeachment na yan,” the senator said.
(We are now separated, we are becoming Luzon versus VisMin. It’s unsightly because I always hear my father always say ‘one country, one mind’… From what is happening and everything that is going on, especially if the impeachment proceeds.)
She said that the political conflict may affect investor confidence.
“Nagpaplano sila ng long term na five years [or] ten years sa kanilang investment, tapos hindi nila maasahan. Lagi silang nagagalit kapag ganyan at kapag may instability or alitan or any kind of political anxiety. Ayaw na ayaw nila yan, mahirap talagang mag-invest kasi maglalagay ka ng pera mo sa isang lugar na hindi ka sigurado kung saan patungo at sino ang mamamahala,” she said.
(They plan for a long term of five years [or] ten years in their investment, then they end up not being able to rely on it. They are always angry at this, if there is instability or discourse or any kind of political anxiety. They really don’t like it, it’s hard to invest because you will be putting your money into a place where you are not sure what will happen and who will be leading it.)
“Sana utusan na talaga ang Congress [House of Representatives] na huwag nang pilitin itong impeachment. Kung may kaso magfile ng kaso at huwag nang pagwatak-watakin ang ating bansa. Dahil ito nga, hindi nga nakakatulong,” she added.
(I hope the House will be ordered not to push through with the impeachment. If they have a case to file, then just file it and not divide the country. Because this does not help.) — VBL, GMA Integrated News
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