Vice President Sara Duterte has pushed back against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks urging public officials to “stop politicking,” saying it is the administration itself that’s focused on politics rather than public service.
“Maybe he should look in the mirror, when he says ‘stop politicking.’ Because they are the ones who are politicking. All we do is respond, right?” Duterte said in Filipino during an ambush interview in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Vice President insisted her camp has merely been defending itself and not launching any attacks. “So, we’re not doing any kind of attack. For all of us, [we just] respond and defend. So, they are the ones who should stop,” she added, pointing the finger at the Marcos administration.
Duterte also raised concern over the administration’s priorities, particularly its plan to provide financial aid to witnesses who may testify before the International Criminal Court (ICC). She contrasted this with what she described as the government’s slow response to help Filipinos affected by the conflict between Iran and Israel.
“That’s why we can see, and the people can see, where the priorities of this administration truly lie. Apparently, it’s all just politics,” Duterte said.
The Vice President revealed she is in The Hague to visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is reportedly allowed visits four times a week by the ICC detention unit. She arrived last Saturday and plans to stay until July 23.
Duterte also confirmed she would not be attending President Marcos’ upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 — marking the second consecutive year she has skipped the annual event.
