FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) and Vice President Sara Duterte (left). Photo from RTVM
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is not bothered by Vice President Sara Duterte’s silence on China-related concerns because it is not her role to speak on such matters.
Marcos, in a briefing with the Philippine media delegation here on Friday afternoon, said that Vice President Duterte, being a part of his administration, is conforming with the government’s official stand against China’s aggressive and intrusive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.
But if the Vice President “had some very serious misgivings” about the administration’s stance on China, the President believed she would tell him so.
“It’s not the Vice President’s place to – the Vice President is part of the government. Unlike before, pero ngayon, talagang kasama sa (but now the Vice President is really part of the) administration, not only the government’s agenda in this administration,” Marcos said.
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“That’s not the role of the Vice President, or the Secretary of Education to talk about China. So, I think we are all in line because I’m very sure that if Inday Sara had some very serious misgivings about what we are doing in terms of foreign policies, she would bring that to me,” he added.
Vice President Duterte has been earning criticisms for her “deafening silence” on the West Philippine Sea issue, including the water cannon attacks against Philippine vessels conducting resupply missions for troops in Ayungin Shoal.
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Groups deemed Duterte’s silence as treacherous, noting her ability to speak up on issues like the congressional probe into Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, who was being investigated by the House of Representatives and Senate for involvement in a media outfit accused of spreading disinformation, and alleged sex crimes.
On April 8, Duterte said she had no comment on the matter, echoing the position of her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, who said that questions on the government’s foreign policy should be addressed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense.
As of now, Marcos said Duterte has not called his attention for anything. He also said that the Vice President only intends to continue working.
“And, wala naman siyang, ang pinag-uusapan nga namin, sabi niya, ‘basta ako trabaho lang ako nang trabaho’, sabi niyang gano’n. That’s a good policy. So, I don’t think it is something that we need to be concerned with,” he added.
(And, she has not said anything, when we talked, she said that she will continue working, that’s what she said. That’s a good policy. So, I don’t think it is something that we need to be concerned with.)