By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Monday, April 22, that First Lady Liza Araneta–Marcos’ personal feelings toward her have nothing to do with her duties as a public servant.
The vice president issued such a statement in her video–message posted on her official Facebook page after the first lady revealed in her interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna that she now sees Duterte in a negative light.
“As a person, it is First Lady Liza Marcos’ right to feel resentment and anger. However, her emotions are distinct from my mandate as a government official,” VP Duterte said in a local dialect.
To move forward, VP Duterte said she would privately talk about the next steps with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., considering that the country is facing significant problems that need to be addressed by the government.
“We should focus on addressing the challenges facing our country. The relentless increase in food prices and other commodities further aggravates the plight of our impoverished fellow citizens who do not have enough food,” the vice president said.
VP Duterte also cited the shortage of water and the looming electricity supply while the illegal drug trade continues to increase. She said the threat of crime, terrorism, and insurgency in our country has not yet ended.
“These are the things that deserve our attention. Let us prioritize the Philippines,” VP Duterte said.
Araneta–Marcos earlier expressed that the vice president had gone too far when she was seen participating in an anti–Charter Change candlelight prayer rally in January and found amusement in her father’s (Former President Rodrigo Duterte) comments regarding Marcos being “stoned.”
The former Chief Executive also claimed that the president was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The latter, however, opposed Duterte’s claim.
Marcos said the elder Duterte was experiencing the consequences of using fentanyl. The exchange of drug allegations between them intensified speculations regarding the rift between the Duterte and Marcos families.