Manila [Philippines], October 19: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on October 18 harshly attacked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he lacked leadership ability.
"The current leader does not know how to be a president," Sara Duterte said in a two-hour press conference. She also attributed problems such as inflation and food security to the Philippine government's unclear policies, Reuters reported on October 18.
"It is not my fault that we are on the road to hell like this. I cannot remember a single time he (Marcos Jr) discussed what to do in the government," Duterte said. President Marcos Jr. did not comment on the statements of his subordinates.
The incident took place before the Philippines prepared for midterm elections in May 2025. This was the time when Mr. Marcos Jr. consolidated his power and somewhat prepared for his successor, before his term ended in 2028 because according to the law, each president can only serve one term in the Philippines.
The political alliance between Sara Duterte (daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte) and Marcos Jr. (son of late President Ferdinand Marcos ) was formed to win the 2022 election. However, Ms. Duterte's resignation from the cabinet in June, along with recent statements attacking the incumbent president, signaled a rift in this alliance.
Also at a press conference on October 18, Ms. Duterte said she was "used" after cooperating with Mr. Marcos in 2022. Tensions between the two have escalated with recent investigations accusing Ms. Duterte of being involved in the misuse of public funds, which she has denied, along with investigations related to the war on drugs by former President Rodrigo Duterte, Mr. Marcos Jr.'s predecessor and also Ms. Duterte's father, according to The Guardian .
Ms. Sara Duterte even threatened to "dig up the grave" of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and throw his remains into the sea.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper