VP Sara needs psychological assessment – lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines — The “disturbing and childish” temper and arrogance displayed by Vice President Sara Duterte during her two-hour press conference last week perhaps signal a need for her to undergo psychological tests, administration lawmakers suggested yesterday.

“For someone in such a high position to make violent and grotesque threats, even in jest, shows a troubling level of instability,” Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun said, referring to Duterte’s remarks that she wanted to cut off President Marcos’ head as well as exhume and throw the remains of his father into the West Philippine Sea.

Such remarks, according to Khonghun, are “deeply alarming.”

“We cannot afford to have leaders who let their emotions spiral out of control in such a public and extreme manner,” he said.

“We urge the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to consider seeking professional help for Vice President Duterte, as this behavior is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for our nation’s leadership,” La Union first district Rep. Paolo Ortega V said.

Ortega underscored the gravity of Duterte’s recent statements, emphasizing the need for responsible leadership amid such troubling behavior.

“The Filipino people deserve leaders who are mentally and emotionally stable, especially during challenging times,” Ortega maintained.

Both administration lawmakers belong to the Young Guns clique of young legislators in the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre called on Duterte – a former Davao City mayor and education secretary – to “behave like an educated adult and stop acting like a child” by addressing the core issue on how she spent the confidential funds allotted to her office.

“It’s very disturbing to see the second highest official of the country resorting to petty threats, childish threats. Can she not make sense of the P125-million confidential funds that she must have enjoyed for spending it in just 11 days?” Acidre asked.

“I mean these are very serious issues that need to be explained well. Confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) – by whatever name you call it – are still public funds that are derived from money that every