VP Duterte a ‘clear danger to the nation’ – House leaders

FILE: Vice President Sara Duterte briefed senators on proposed 2025 budget of the Office of Vice President (OVP). For next year, the OVP is seeking a budget of P2.037 billion, which will be allotted to personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay. (Photo: Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday said Vice President Sara Duterte should face accountability for what she said in her public meltdown.

In separate statements expressing full support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s remarks on the death threats from the Vice President, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said Duterte should face the music for exhibiting behavior unbefitting her high office.

They also said her actions were not only criminal but also destabilizing.

“Ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo ay hindi lang krimen – ito ay senyales ng kawalang-kakayahan na mamuno nang maayos. Ang ganitong asal ay nagpapakita ng problema kung papaano mag-isip ang isang lider na dapat ay nagtutulak ng pagkakaisa, hindi kaguluhan (Threatening the life of the President is not only a crime – it is a sign of an inability to properly lead. This kind of behavior shows a problem in the thinking of a leader who should be promoting unity instead of discord),” Gonzales said.

Suarez called Duterte’s behavior a clear danger to the nation.

“Her behavior only proves that her actions may cause discord in our people, making them a danger to the nation. Mismong Pangulo na natin ang umalma. Unity po ang panawagan ni PBBM, pero may bounds po ang pagkakaisa kung ang kasama niyo ay pinagbabantaan ang inyong buhay (The President himself objected. PBBM’s call is unity, but unity has bounds if your associate is threatening your life),” Suarez said.

“Hindi ito simpleng pananabotahe sa ating demokrasya; ito ay isang pagsubok sa katatagan ng ating Republika (This is not simply sabotaging democracy; it is a challenge to the strength of our Republic).”

Dalipe, meanwhile, accused Duterte of undermining the presidency and the rule of law.

“Ang pagbabanta ng karahasan sa Pangulo mismo ay hindi lamang mali kundi isang pagtataksil sa bayan. Ang ganitong pagkilos ay kailangang masagot ng Vice President sa ilalim ng ating batas (The threat of violence to the President is not only wrong but a betrayal of the country. This action needs to be answered by the Vice President under our law),” Dalipe said.

Meanwhile, the House leaders expressed their full support for President Marcos’ call for respect for democratic processes and accountability.

“Malinaw ang sinabi ng Pangulo – kailangan manaig ang batas at ang katotohanan. Walang sinuman, kahit ang Pangalawang Pangulo, ang exempted dito (What the President said is clear – the law and the truth must prevail. Nobody, even the Vice President, is exempted from this),” Gonzales said.

The lawmakers also condemned Duterte’s refusal to cooperate with investigations and resorting instead to incendiary rhetoric.

“Sa halip na harapin ang isyu, mas pinipili niyang maghasik ng kaguluhan. Ang ganitong asal ay hindi karapat-dapat sa opisyal na binoto para maglingkod, hindi para magdulot ng takot (instead of facing the issue, she chose to spread chaos. This behavior is unbefitting of an official elected to serve, not to sow fear)” Suarez said.

They also warned of the dangers of allowing such behavior to go unchecked.

“Kung kayang magbitiw ng ganitong klaseng pagbabanta laban sa Pangulo, ano pa kaya ang kayang gawin ng isang lider na wala nang takot sa batas (If she can utter such kind of threat against the President, what other things can a leader who already doesn’t fear the law do)?” Dalipe said.

The House leaders likewise warned of the dangerous precedent Duterte’s actions could set.

“We cannot allow this kind of recklessness to undermine the trust of the people in their leaders,” Suarez said.