Pres. Bongbong Marcos Asserts Upholding of Rule of Law, Respect for Legal Processes
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President issued a statement amid the tirades of Vice President Sara Duterte and the issues surrounding the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
In the recent months, the public has witnessed the changes in the relationship of Pres. Marcos and Vice Pres. Duterte. There were several instances when the Vice President threw strong remarks against the Chief Executive and they gained different reactions from the public.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte gave Pres. Bongbong Marcos a one over 10 rating when asked to rate his performance as the country’s chief executive with 10 being the highest. According to the Vice President, he allegedly does not know how to be a president.
Prior to claiming that Marcos Jr. allegedly does not know how to be a president, the Vice President said that she and the Chief Executive did not really start as friends. According to her, Senator Imee Marcos is really her friend and she and BBM only talked during the campaign and when they worked. Pres. Marcos said he felt that he was maybe deceived as he believed on their friendship.
Recently, amid the OVP Chief-of-Staff’s detention in the House of Representatives, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte once again threw remarks that express possible threats on the life of Pres. Bongbong Marcos and, this time, as well as the lives of his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a video message, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that the recent remarks were alarming. He stressed that those kind of threats should not be let pass.
“Kung ganun na lang kadali, ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang presidente, papanu pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan.“
Marcos Jr. stressed that everyone who works in the government including him has the responsibility to implement and protect the Philippine Constitution and the law. He stressed that preventing the elected officials from their search for the truth is not right.
“Kaya hindi tama ang pagpigil sa mga halal ng bayan sa paghahanap ng katotohanan. Hindi na sana hahantong sa ganitong drama kung sasagutin lamang ang mga lehitimong katanungan sa Senado at sa House of Representatives.”
Pres. Bongbong Marcos further said that the issue could have ended already only if the legitimate questions were answered and the issue is not diverted. To recall, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has evaded the House hearing several times regarding the budget use of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her term.
Marcos Jr. stressed that he has spent 12 years serving in the Congress and he respects the power that the people and the Constitution have bestowed upon the lawmakers. According to him, there are a lot of problems in the Philippines and he is focusing on leading the government but he will not compromise the rule of law.
“Hindi natin ikukumpromiso ang rule of law. Kailangang manaig ang batas sa anumang sitwasyon, sinuman ang tamaan. Kaya hindi ko hahayaan magtagumpay ang hangarin ng iba na hatakin ang buong bansa sa bura ng pulitika. Igalang natin ang proseso, tuparin natin ang batas,” the President said.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also accused First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos of allegedly being the one behind the cash-filled envelopes given to DepEd officials. There are officials of the education department who claimed they received money from Duterte during her term as education secretary.