Ortega on Sara Duterte's call for Marcos to resign: 'Mauna siya'

Vice President Sara Duterte should resign first before calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step down, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said Tuesday.

Ortega was responding to Duterte’s comments last weekend following her arraignment in the grave threat case she is facing over her alleged threat to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Duterte said Marcos should resign because he had allegedly forsaken the voters who elected him by failing to provide sufficient government assistance amid massive flooding.

“Pinipilit niya ang President na mag-resign. Mauna na lang muna siya para mabawasan ‘yung mga hinaharap niyang problema ngayon,” Ortega said in a press conference.

(She is forcing the President to resign. She should do it first to reduce the problems she is facing now.)

Ortega was referring to the impeachment case filed against Duterte, which includes allegations of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over her alleged threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed.

“Mauna lang siya mag-resign kasi siya ang nakaisip. She must set an example then,” Ortega added.

(She should do it first because she was the one who thought of it.)

Ortega also said the country should not be subjected to the Vice President’s whims.

“Hindi naman siya ang masusunod sa buong Pilipinas (She cannot order the entire nation around),” Ortega said.

GMA News Online has reached out to lawyer Paolo Panelo, Duterte's spokesperson, and will update this story once a response is received.

Under Article VII, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, if a sitting Philippine president resigns, the Vice President automatically becomes President and serves the unexpired portion of the President's term. — MCG, GMA News