First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (left), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (centre), and Vice President Sara Duterte. - Facebook pages of Marcos and Duterte Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1932638/bongbong-says-lizas-beef-with-sara-wont-affect-his-working-relationship-with-vp#ixzz8YDdVYtwW Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said his “working relationship” with Vice President Sara Duterte will not be affected despite the stinging remarks of his wife, First Lady Liza Marcos-Araneta, against his 2022 running mate.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro, the President also said Duterte would keep her post as Education Secretary.
Marcos’ pronouncements followed a controversial interview with the first lady, who expressed enmity toward Duterte over the latter’s behaviour during a January rally in Davao City where the vice president’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, called President Marcos “bangag,” a slang term for a drug user.
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“It will not affect our working relationship with the Vice President, Secretary of Education. I think that she also understands, as a wife, how the first lady feels when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” he said.
“But VP Sara and I will talk about it. She should not take it too hard, she was not the one who said something. Probably it’s easy to iron out all the issues,” he added.
Several lawmakers and groups have also questioned Duterte’s capacity as Education Secretary, with some calling for her resignation.
But Marcos said: “Any of the cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they do not do their jobs. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they cannot do it, if they get sick, just say it and you will be replaced. If they are inept or corrupt, you will be removed. Inday (Sara Duterte) is not like that.” - Philippine Dailly Inquirer/ANN
