A clear “striking difference” between the selflessness of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and the political theatrics of Vice President Sara Duterte is evident in their recent actions and statements, according to a Mindanao House leader.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who chairs the House Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation, praised the President’s focus on national priorities. He pointed to Marcos’ appeal for lawmakers to avoid wasting time on an impeachment bid against the Vice President, despite her inflammatory remarks.
“The President is laser-focused on addressing the nation’s most pressing issues,” Adiong stated. “This highlights a striking contrast in character: the President prioritizes the welfare of the Filipino people, while the Vice President evades accountability and threatens the security of the nation’s highest officials.”
Adiong was referring to Duterte’s controversial remarks, which included alleged threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. These remarks followed Duterte’s visit to the House premises late at night on Nov. 25 to see her detained chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who was released shortly after by the House Blue Ribbon panel.
The Vice President has faced mounting scrutiny over her refusal to address questions about the P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to her offices, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), during her tenure from July 2022 to July 2023. Duterte declined multiple House invitations to explain the issue, citing her workload, but made an unannounced visit to the House to see Lopez, insisting on staying overnight.
Tensions escalated further when the House panel transferred Lopez to the Correctional Institute for Women. In response, Duterte allegedly made public threats, vowing harm to the First Couple and the Speaker.
“So, let’s make this simple: When the President is killed, who takes over?” Adiong asked. He emphasized the gravity of Duterte’s statements, pointing out that her threats were explicit and repeated.
“A threat is a threat, whether perceived as conditional or not. The intent is there, and the plan was made public. Filipinos are not stupid,” Adiong stressed.
This controversy underscores the growing divide between the President’s commitment to governance and the Vice President’s controversial actions, further fueling political tensions.