MANILA – Members of the House of Representatives issued statements on Saturday lambasting Vice President Sara Duterte for her “reckless and dangerous” remarks to have President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez assassinated if she were killed.
House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the Vice President “crossed the line.”
“Hindi normal ang ganitong klase ng pahayag mula sa isang mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno. Dapat natin tanungin, nasa tamang pag-iisip pa ba si Vice President Duterte (This kind of statements are not normal for a high-ranking government official. We have to ask, is Vice President Duterte still in a right state of mind)? These words are dangerous, reckless, and deeply concerning,” Ortega said, adding that such behavior warrants a psychological evaluation.
Ortega urged the Vice President to reflect on her words and consider stepping back from public duties if her actions continue to harm national unity.
“Ang ganitong klaseng salita ay hindi nakakatulong sa bayan. Sa halip na magkaisa, nagdudulot ito ng takot at pagkakawatak-watak (This kind of remarks do not help the country. Instead of uniting, this instills fear and discord),” Ortega said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong described Duterte’s statements as reckless and destabilizing.
“This rhetoric is deeply irresponsible and deeply troubling. We do not want this kind of threats be directed against anyone, not to the sitting President, the Speaker or even to the Vice President herself. Instead of fostering unity, it incites fear and division, creates an atmosphere of insecurity among the top echelon of our government and promotes a culture of violence which is diametrically opposed to the core of our democratic system of governance,” Adiong said.
He called on Duterte to retract her statements and clarify her intentions.
“Kung may mga isyung kailangang harapin, dapat itong sagutin ng maayos at direkta (If there are issues that need to be addressed, these should be answered properly and directly). Threats have no place in governance, especially against our top leaders,” he said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun urged the public not to be misled by Duterte’s inflammatory remarks, describing them as deliberate “diversionary tactics” from allegations of her misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds.
“Instead of addressing the allegations head-on, she is creating distractions that only sow fear and division,” he said.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre called out Duterte’s “toxic behavior” that reflects poorly on her role as the second highest official of the land.
“This does not suit her, especially given the dignity of her office,” Acidre said. “Her actions and words raise serious questions about her priorities as a leader. Instead of addressing the issues at hand, she is diverting attention with theatrics.”
Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pammy Zamora said no amount of distraction should divert attention from ferreting out the facts behind the use of confidential funds.
“Kung gusto niya talagang mag-camp out dito sa House, baka mas mabuti po na harapin na din ang mga myembro ng (If she really wants to camp out here at the House, it might be better if she also faces the members of the) Blue Ribbon Committee,” Zamora said.
“This is an opportunity for Vice President Duterte to address the serious concerns about her office’s confidential fund spending and the allegations tied to her chief-of-staff,” she added. (PNA)
