MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio intensified her criticism of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., urging him to take a drug test while dismissing as “pointless” the growing calls for his resignation over corruption allegations in flood control projects.
Speaking to reporters in Zamboanga, Duterte-Carpio clarified that she never asked Marcos to step down, saying the claim was taken out of context.
Instead, she challenged the President to accept the drug test proposal earlier raised by former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.
“That is a hanging, open challenge na hanggang ngayon, ayaw niyang gawin. Na sinasabi ko that is betrayal of public trust,” Duterte-Carpio said.
She underscored that top public officials must be fully accountable to the people they serve.
“If you are president or vice president, you consecrate yourself to the service of the nation. Ibig sabihin nun, ibibigay mo na ang sarili mo sa bayan. Ibig sabihin nun, yung katawan mo, hindi na ‘yan sayo, sa bayan na yan,” she added.
The vice president also brushed off calls from protesters urging Marcos to resign, arguing that it was unrealistic given the family’s political history.
“Hindi magre-resign yan. Nakita niyo ba yung tatay? Ilang years yung senior [na umupo?] 20 years? That is a pointless call ha. Tingnan niyo yung DNA. Ayaw niyang umalis ng puwesto,” she said.
“Marcos resign is a pointless call. That is why ako, I am asking him to do his job, of which of course, alam nating lahat na hindi niya ginagawa,” Duterte-Carpio further remarked.
Her comments come amid intensifying political friction within the administration and public outrage over alleged irregularities in infrastructure spending, particularly in flood control projects under the Marcos government./PN
