It’s complicated, Marcos says of ties with VP, Dutertes

MANILA, Philippines — With continued attacks from his predecessor, President Marcos yesterday described his relationship with the Duterte family as “complicated.”

Marcos, however, said his relations with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte haven’t changed.

During a question-and-answer portion at a luncheon hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Manila Hotel, Marcos was asked how he would reconcile his continued alliance with the Vice President amid her family’s vocal disdain over his policies.

“It’s complicated,” the President responded, laughing.

“But if you ask about… the one, of course, I have the most contact with is Inday Sara, and how we were with each other during the campaign, after the election, it hasn’t really changed. That’s what she always says,” he said, referring to the Vice President.

Duterte, who was Marcos’ runningmate in the May 2022 elections, is focused on her job and does not pay too much attention to her father and male siblings’ tirades against him, according to the President.

“Oh, are you all right (that) you’re in the middle of all of these?” the President said as asking the Vice President.

“She says, ‘No, I’ll just work. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just work and work and work and work.’ That’s her attitude,” Marcos said.

The President earlier defended the Vice President over her silence on China’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea.

Last week, Marcos said that he was “horrified” by the supposedly secret “gentleman’s agreement” entered into by former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Philippines would not undertake repairs at the rusting BRP Sierra Madre, which remains grounded in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea and now serves as a naval outpost.

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte have criticized Marcos in recent days.

The elder Duterte earlier said that Marcos should be content with his six-year term and no longer eye for a term extension, as the former president accused his successor of plotting such.

“Be content that God gave you a chance to serve the country as president …