VP: Don’t be motivated by cash, cocaine, champagne

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte continued her broadsides yesterday against her erstwhile allies, declaring that “leaders should not be motivated by cash, cocaine or champagne… And most certainly, leaders should not be made to hold champagne glasses.”

Duterte also admitted that she and President Marcos have not seen or talked to each other since she resigned from her Cabinet post in June.

“I don’t have a description of my relationship now with President Marcos. We no longer talk to each other. We also no longer see each other,” Duterte said yesterday in separate interviews with SMNI and GMA News.

In a public statement she posted on her personal Facebook page, which was shared by the Office of the Vice President, Duterte mentioned for the second time the word “cocaine.”

It was seen as a reference to accusations by her camp that Marcos is a cocaine user. Her mention of champagne was also seen as a reference to video footage during the diplomatic reception held recently at Malacañang, which showed First Lady Liza Marcos grabbing a champagne glass held by Senate President Francis Escudero, sipping from it and handing it back to him.

In an open letter last Wednesday, Duterte lamented how the government and its officials “continuously” allowed Filipinos to go hungry, live in poverty and remain vulnerable to crimes.

She specifically slammed the government and members of the House of Representatives over supposed inaction on the issues of health, security and foreign interference, especially of the International Criminal Court and their investigation on her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, saying that “Filipinos deserve better.”

Duterte defended her statement, saying that she was neither “pro-administration” nor “anti-administration,” but rather speaking for the welfare of the Filipinos and the country.

Addressing government officials, Duterte said: “Leadership is faithfulness to the oath of office. Leadership is faithful service to the people. Leaders should only say one thing – that ‘it is done.’”

The Vice President also criticized the recent survey of OCTA Research, which showed that fewer people are supportive of her family,