Sara cool to‘Duterte-Duterte’tandem
VICE President Sara Duterte is cool to the proposal of former chief presidential legal counsel and presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo to field a “Duterte-Duterte” tandem in the 2028 presidential elections.
Panelo floated the idea during the “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” rally on March 13, when he asked the crowd who they wanted to run as president and vice president in 2028.
The crowd responded that they want the vice president and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to run as a tandem.
Panelo later explained that he wanted the elder Duterte to run as vice president to resolve the allegations of corruption and abuse of power committed by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
But in a chance interview with reporters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of her visit as the president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (Seameo), Duterte said she is not privy to Panelo’s plans.
“I don’t know if they have discussions because I am not there, so I don’t know what was discussed by Attorney Panelo and [former president Duterte],” the vice president said.
She also said that her relationship with her father does not revolve around politics.
“I and former President Rodrigo Duterte do not speak politics with each other. That was our relationship before 2016 and until now; we do not speak about politics when we meet,” Duterte said.
In an earlier statement, Duterte said that both her father and President Marcos expressed concerns about her well-being, but she said that she will take care of herself as she carries out her duties and responsibilities as vice president and concurrent Education secretary.
“It is clear that both men are blessed with the heart to respect the will of a woman. Both leaders are also gifted with the wisdom to know that I am not a problem, and I do not need to be solved, rather, this is the time to focus on the work that needs to be done for the country,” she said.
Duterte said that her visit to Cambodia will fortify the educational, scientific and cultural partnership between the two countries.
She also said that her discussions with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport are “clear testament” to the two countries’ mutual dedication to advancing regional education.
“By exchanging best practices and innovative strategies, we commit to furthering our collaboration in developing initiatives that will transform the educational landscape,” Duterte said.
She also said that the Philippines can learn from the practices and programs of the Seameo Center for Technical Education Development in Cambodia, especially on ensuring that technical education will adapt to industry changes.
“The collaboration between our Ministries of Education and our Seameo Centers will hopefully pave the way for new [programs] towards achieving our vision in Seameo. I do believe that unity and stability can be fostered through cooperation and collaboration,” Duterte said.
RED MENDOZA ”Ǥǡ