VP Sara Duterte denies calling for Marcos’ resignation

Vice-president Sara Duterte addresses people gathering outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on March 14, 2025, as former President Rodrigo Duterte appears for the first time before International Criminal Court to face crimes against humanity charges.   (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte denied that she called for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s resignation, stating that it was her family’s supporters who made the demand,  and that she was merely urging them to explain why they want the President to step down.

Duterte made the clarification after the Palace reacted to the claims she made during a gathering in The Hague, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently under custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ: VP Duterte questions Marcos’ ability to lead, think clearly

“Wala akong sinasabi ever na dapat mag-resign si [Marcos]. Ang sinabi ko lang kahapon, sabi ko kung nananawagan kayo ng ‘BBM resign,’ bigyan niyo ng rason kung bakit yan ang panawagan ninyo sa kanila. And I gave them examples,” said Duterte in a chance interview with reporters on Tuesday.

(I never said that [Marcos] should resign. What I said yesterday was, I said, if you’re calling for ‘BBM resign,’ give a reason. And I gave them examples.)

“Iyon lang naman ang sinabi ko. Sabi ko sa mga tao, pag nanawagan kayo ng BBM resign, dapat sabihin ninyo kung bakit. Para naiintindihan noong mga nakikinig, bakit ba tayo nananawagan ng resign?” she added

(That’s all I said. I told the people, if you’re calling for BBM resign, you should say why. So that those listening understand why you are calling for a resignation.)

It was on Sunday when a number of Duterte supporters gathered in The Hague on Sunday (Manila time) and were chanting “Marcos resign.”

The vice president, who was also present, responded:“Kayo nagsabi niyan, hindi ako ah.”

She continued by taking a jab at Marcos’ capability to lead the country, explicitly stating why Marcos should resign.

“Bakit ba kailangan mag-resign? Dahil hindi mo pinapakita sa taumbayan na maayos kang mag-isip at kaya mo ang mamuno,” she said in her speech.

(Why should you resign? Because you are not showing the people that you can think clearly and are capable of leading.)

Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, slammed the vice president, questioning who really would benefit from the President’s resignation.

Castro even criticized the vice president by saying that an official who “hides things and does not show documents,” particularly about funds, cannot be a leader—alluding to her alleged misuse of government funds.

The ICC currently has custody of former President Duterte after he was arrested and sent to The Hague for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s  war against drugs which left at least 6,000 people dead, accordong to official government records.