By Brian Jules Campued
Vice President Sara Duterte will remain as Education secretary despite calls for her resignation and reported feud with First Lady Liza Marcos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.
In an interview following a town hall meeting in Occidental Mindoro, Marcos said that cabinet members will be removed from their posts if they are “inefficient or corrupt”.
“Any of the cabinet secretaries will be replaced ‘pag hindi na nila ginagawa ‘yung trabaho nila,” he said.
“All the other things are not part of the discussions. ‘Pag hindi na kaya, eh nagkasakit sabihin mo na, eh ‘di papalitan ka namin, o hindi talaga marunong o corrupt ‘di ba? Tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Eh hindi naman ganun si Inday Sara eh,” he added.
The President said the recent statements of the First Lady will not affect his relationship with Duterte.
“It will not affect our working relationship with the Vice President, Secretary of Education. I think that she also, as a wife, understands how the First Lady feels when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
Nonetheless, the Chief Executive said he will speak with the Vice President about the issue.
“Mag-uusap kami tungkol diyan. ‘Wag na masyadong dibdibin at ‘yung hindi naman siya ang nagsabi tungkol sa kung ano-ano. Kaya’t madali naman siguro na plantsahin lahat itong naging isyu na ito,” he said.
Marcos also pointed out that the First Lady did not come from a political family, hence her reaction towards allegations hurled at him by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto…siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn na magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit, maiinit, at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
He said the First Lady was just being protective of him.
“My first reaction is what a lucky husband I am that I have a wife na very protective sa akin na kahit na may nakitang hindi magandang sinabi tungkol sa akin ay ‘yan talagang she gets upset,” the President said. – avds
