Vice President Sara Duterte launched an unprecedented verbal attack on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a press conference on Friday, October 18, accusing her former ally of leading the country into disaster. The fallout between the two top leaders has taken center stage, with Duterte describing the administration as incompetent and lacking a clear plan for the country.
“It’s not my fault that we are on this road to hell,” Duterte said, criticizing Marcos for what she sees as his failure to effectively address inflation and food security. She claimed Marcos never presented a solid platform during their campaign in 2022. “I don’t remember him mentioning any platform detailing what he would do for this country,” Duterte added, pointing out that she tuned out during his speeches because they lacked substance.
In the two-hour press conference, Duterte rated Marcos’ performance as president a mere “one” out of ten. She cited an incident at a graduation ceremony where Marcos’ response to a student’s request for his watch as a gift revealed, in her opinion, his inability to relate to ordinary citizens. “I wanted to cut off his head,” she said in a moment of frustration.
Duterte also accused Marcos’ allies in Congress of plotting an impeachment against her, warning the public of ongoing conspiracies. Despite her scathing remarks, Duterte avoided addressing recent allegations of irregularities involving confidential funds under her office.
“Drag me to hell,” she declared, referencing her new tagline in the wake of her contentious relationship with the president, signaling a further escalation in the political rift.
The President’s office has yet to issue a response.
