Sara Duterte’s Actions Crossed the Line Says First Lady Liza Marcos
LIZA MARCOS – First Lady Liza Marcos said Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s actions crossed the line.
Amid swirling speculation regarding tensions between the Marcos and Duterte families, First Lady Liza Marcos revealed her evolving perspective on Vice President Sara Duterte. She expressed dismay over an alleged incident where Duterte, also holding the position of education secretary, purportedly laughed at a rally where President Marcos was accused of drug use. Liza conveyed her disappointment, underscoring her husband’s protective stance towards Duterte, with whom they had previously allied.
Liza referred to a recent rally in Davao City where Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, accused Marcos of drug addiction. She also recalled her past kindness towards Sara, who had run for vice president under the Marcos-led UniTeam alliance in 2022.
Reporter Anthony Taberna cited Liza as suggesting that Sara had “crossed the line” and questioned the possibility of reconciliation. Liza’s response, “Bad shot na yun sa akin,” revealed her dissatisfaction, although the specific question she responded to was unclear due to the edited teaser video. Taberna later shared Liza’s statement on Facebook, where she expressed concern for her sons’ well-being.
“Ako, I don’t get pikon. I get pikon when they hurt my sons,” Liza was quoted as saying.
Before Taberna’s interview, a video circulated online depicting Liza’s apparent disregard for Sara, fueling speculation about their strained relationship. In the video from Radio Television Malacañang, Marcos greeted Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and the Vice President before boarding a plane bound for Vietnam. Standing beside Marcos, Liza initially moved towards boarding but returned to greet Bersamin with a kiss on the cheek upon noticing her husband still engaged in conversation with Sara. She then proceeded onto the aircraft.
Rumors of discord among the President’s allies emerged when some administration lawmakers redirected confidential funds from agencies under the Vice President’s leadership. The elder Duterte accused Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, of mishandling discretionary funds, characterizing the House of Representatives as deeply corrupt. Nevertheless, Marcos reaffirmed the strength of the UniTeam alliance during a press briefing in Hawaii last November.
In January, the former president alleged at a prayer rally that Marcos was addicted to drugs and insinuated that the renewed push for Charter change aimed to extend officials’ term limits. Marcos attributed his predecessor’s behavior to possible effects of Fentanyl use.
Duterte persisted in his verbal attacks, labeling the President a “cry baby” and “pro-America” earlier this month. In response, Marcos refrained from engaging in personal attacks, emphasizing his focus on other matters.
Even before assuming the presidency in 2022, Marcos had been subject to Duterte’s criticisms, who portrayed him as “spoiled” and a “weak leader” with unresolved issues.
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