BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas called on Vice President Sara Duterte to relinquish her post as a Cabinet secretary for attending a rally in Davao City where she was seen laughing as her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a drug addict.
“If a Cabinet secretary cannot give full support to the President who appointed him or her, the best and only option available is to resign,” Treñas said.
The mayors were reacting to the statement of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos expressing displeasure at the Vice President for attending the January Davao rally where the former president lambasted President Marcos.
“If you are appointed secretary, you give your full loyalty to your President. You do not attend rallies where your President is attacked. Simple delicadeza dictates that you do not do that. If you cannot refrain from doing that, the best option is to resign,” said Treñas.
Interviewed by broadcaster Anthony Taberna on his Facebook page, the First Lady did not mince words in admitting being hurt when the Vice President, who is also the Education secretary, even laughed after President Marcos was called “bangag” during the rally organized by Duterte supporters.
“I mean, for me, nasaktan ako (I was hurt) because my husband will do everything to protect you,” Liza said.
“You ran together, di ba? Sama-sama tayo babangon muli. Pupunta ka sa rally, tatawagin yung Presidente mong bangag, ‘di ba (We will rise together again. You will go to a rally, your president will be called a drug addict), you’re going to laugh. Tama ba yan (is that right)? Even (former vice president) Leni (Robredo) never did that,” the First Lady was quoted as saying.
Mayor Treñas and Bacolod City’s Mayor Albee Benitez, in a joint statement, said they “empathize” with the First Lady who has roots in Iloilo, Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
“It seems inappropriate for a Vice President, who campaigned under the same party banner as the President, to participate in such events and react with amusement to the attacks,” the mayors said.
“Moreover, as the Secretary of Education, she is a key member of the President’s cabinet. A certain level of solidarity is expected. Some unspoken rules and lines should not be crossed,” the mayors said./PN
