The political partnership between the Marcos and Duterte clans is holding for now.
This, after First Lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos took potshots at Vice -president Sara Duterte-Carpio last week, even comparing her to former VP Leni Robredo.
Allies of the President said the Vice-president should resign, if not from the vice-presidency then at least her post as Education secretary.
Madam Marcos said last week that VP Duterte-Carpio had “crossed the line” for attending a rally in Davao City and laughing when her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had referred to the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as “bangag” (high on drugs).
The rally was anti-charter change, which Marcos is backing but which the Duterte clan rejects.
In an interview with a broadcast journalist, the First Lady said she was not a hypocrite and had taken to ignoring the Vice-president every time they attend the same event.
Her snubbing of the VP, who was her husband’s running mate in the last elections, had become apparent to the public after photos and videos of her giving the cold shoulder to VP Duterte-Carpio appeared over local print and broadcast media.
Madam Marcos said she will continue to ignore the VP until she apologizes.
Duterte-Carpio, however, replied to Madam Marcos’s comments on her actions, saying the First Lady’s feelings have nothing to do with her functions as an elected government official.
The VP said, “(being) human, it is the right of First Lady Liza Marcos to feel upset and angry but her personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
The VP posted her reply on Facebook three days after the First Lady’s interview.
Meanwhile, President Marcos rejected calls for Duterte-Carpio to resign her twin posts as VP and Education secretary.
Madam Marcos said she did not talk to Duterte-Carpio during the President’s departure speech for his State visit to Vietnam the day after she made known her feelings towards the VP.
Madam Marcos replied to a compliment about her look saying, “No, I look stoned” within hearing distance of the VP.
There was no reaction from Duterte-Carpio, according to Mrs. Marcos.
“After that, I snubbed her. I’ll do it again,” said the First Lady.
Madam Marcos said she was hurt because she knew her husband would do everything to protect the Vice-president.
“You go to a rally, and your president will be called stoned. You’re going to laugh? Is that right? Even (former vice-president) Leni (Robredo) never did that.”
“I don’t think that’s right,” Madam Marcos also said, adding that Duterte-Carpio gets her salary from the government and is supposed to be the President’s second.
“We’re there protecting you, then you do that?” Madam Marcos said.
She ran into Duterte-Carpio again in Prague last month. The President told her to “behave.”
Madam Marcos said she replied, “wrong person, honey.”
Relationship between the Marcos and Duterte families has been steadily going downhill after former president Rodrigo Duterte called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr an addict, a weakling, a crybaby and a college dropout.
