By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

On Sunday (Dec. 1), a Mindanao House Leader lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “selflessness,” in stark contrast to the self-styled political drama being employed by Vice President Sara Duterte. 

House Assistant Majority Leader, House Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation chairman and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized the President’s laser-focus in addressing the most pressing issues of the nation.

The Lanao del Sur lawmaker also took note of President Marcos’ request for House members to refrain from impeaching the Vice President despite her rants, emphasizing that there are more important matters for lawmakers to address. 

“There is a striking contrast between the character of the President who is looking out for the welfare of the Filipino people and putting the interest of the country first,” Adiong pointed out. 

“And the VP who seems to evade accountability by threatening the security of the highest officials of government,” he reiterated, even as Duterte has been taunting [the] government to impeach her, with repeated threats to the Chief Executive, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. 

VP Duterte “shooting herself in the foot”

Duterte has been defying invitations from the House for her to explain the P612.5 million in total confidential funds in 2022 and 2023 that her offices, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and the Department of Education (DepEd) that she headed in July 2022 until July of this year. 

She specifically refused to attend hearings from the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on the basis that she has her hands full, but all of a sudden went to the House before midnight of November 25 to visit Lopez, and insisted on spending the night there. 

And when the members of the panel headed by Manila Rep. Joel Chua decided to transfer Lopez to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, it was at this point where Duterte unleashed her ire, vowing to have the First Couple and the Speaker killed. 

“A threat is a threat no matter what, even if it’s perceived to be conditional. The intent is there, the plan to kill the President was made in public. And she uttered ‘no joke’ not once, but twice. What can be clearer than that? Filipinos are not stupid,” the House Majority Leader concluded. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)

-PCO