Sara bewails ‘despicable’ treatment

VICE President Sara Duterte said she was getting “despicable treatment” from “some sectors” in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s circle.

In a statement on Monday, she said she has not spoken to her brother Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte about his call for the President to resign.

“I can only surmise that Mayor Sebastian Duterte is coming from a place of brotherly love, coupled [with] the common sentiment that I do not deserve the despicable treatment that I am receiving from some sectors within the circle of the President,” she said.

“I take heart from the confidence of the people in my ability to work and thrive in a pandemonium,” she said.

“I will stay true to my work at the Department of Education unless the President says otherwise,” said the vice president, who is concurrently the Education secretary.

Mayor Duterte made the call in a speech at a leaders’ forum.

Leaders of the House of Representatives said the call for the President to resign was baseless.

House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez said, in response to a query during a press conference on Monday, that it was “totally disrespectful of the man, given the position that he holds.”

Suarez lauded the President’s performance in the past two years.

“We have seen how he has managed the economy ... And we have seen his commitment to the Filipino people, that the trust given to him when he was elected President will not be wasted,” he said.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said the Office of the President has to be respected.

“And we are wondering why President [Marcos] was being asked to resign; we do not have a basis,” Gonzales said.

Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John Duavit disagreed with Mayor Duterte.

“Everybody’s got ... a right to an

opinion; everybody’s got a right to express it. I’ll just express mine: I disagree,” Duavit said.

Suarez reiterated that the House’s commitment and support for the President “is unequivocal.”

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez described Marcos as “hardworking, and he is really working for a good life for Filipinos.”

“To the Duterte family, maybe have a little respect for our beloved President and his family,” Romualdez, who is Marcos’ first cousin, said.

Vice President Duterte attended the prayer rally in Davao City on Sunday.

“Many thanks for your support for my work as vice president and secretary of the Department of Education,” she told her supporters.

“The second thanks is from my family. We owe you so much, siblings, for the opportunity you gave us to serve in our government and for your support for six years for the administration of [former] President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” she said.

“I am very thankful because whatever occurrence in politics and my political life, you are still behind me and your support for me remains strong. Many, many thanks,” she said.

In a statement earlier on Sunday, the vice president urged Filipinos to stand against the alleged exchange of money and signatures for Charter change through people’s initiative.

Former congressman Alfredo Garbin Jr. has said the signatures for the people’s initiative were gathered after explaining to the people what they were signing.

“Those who do not wish to sign the petition are not forced to sign it. No threat, intimidation or spread of false information was made, and, more importantly, no promise of reward or dole out of money was given,” Garbin said.

“We were candid when we explained to the people the goals of the present initiative. Personally, on my part, I give talks and meet with the volunteers to fully explain the actions we are taking and our reasons and goals, to make the people understand. I know that in all other regions of our country, this was also done,” he said.