Vice President Sara Duterte made it clear that reconciling with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not currently on her agenda, emphasizing that the nation’s well-being takes precedence over personal matters.
“Unang-una, hindi muna siguro ako magsalita about reconciliation dahil hindi naman mahalaga siguro ang mga personal na problema… Ang mas mahalaga is ‘yong taumbayan at iyong bayan natin,” she said in a GMA News Online report.
Her remarks came shortly after President Marcos expressed openness to mending ties with the Duterte camp, saying in an earlier interview, “Oo, ako, ayoko ng gulo. Gusto ko magkasundo sa lahat ng tao… hindi ko kailangan ng kaaway, kailangan ko kaibigan.”
The Vice President was in the Netherlands to visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity charges linked to the drug war.
Sara Duterte shared that she had an hour-long visit with her father on Friday. During the conversation, they discussed the outcome of the recent midterm elections. According to her, two PDP-Laban senatorial candidates and guest candidate Rodante Marcoleta secured seats, alongside Senator Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos from the Alyansa ticket.
She also revealed that the former president remains keen to take his oath as mayor of Davao City, saying, “I want… Set me free and I will take an oath.”
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously said it would ask the ICC to allow Duterte to take his oath of office while in detention.
