TACLOBAN CITY-Vice President Sara Duterte should heed the advice of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to step away from politics while she still can, House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said on Sunday, Nov. 24.
“We urge the Vice President to listen to her father’s counsel and exit politics before it’s too late,” Libanan, a 4Ps party-list representative, said in a statement.
Libanan criticized Duterte’s leadership style, claiming she lacks the decisiveness and poise needed for a national leader. He described her decision-making as reckless and poorly considered.
His remarks followed the Vice President’s controversial statement on Saturday, where she claimed to have instructed an assassin to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were ever killed. Malacañang has since vowed to take appropriate action.
Earlier this month, former President Duterte advised his daughter to leave politics, citing their family’s rare achievement of producing both a President and Vice President.
“She should be grateful for what we’ve achieved and move on to a peaceful life outside politics,” the former President said, suggesting she focus on business or other endeavors instead.
The Vice President has faced scrutiny over her office’s use of confidential funds, with the Commission on Audit flagging questionable disbursements. Duterte has denied any misuse, calling the inquiries politically motivated.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
