VP Sara: PH not ready for war as Marcos admin lacks plan, direction

The Philippines is ill-equipped for war or any "global shock" due to the Marcos administration’s lack of plan and direction, Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.

Duterte made the statements in a speech during a “Free Duterte Now” rally in Melbourne, Australia where she appealed to her supporters to help her in efforts to free her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte who is in prison in The Hague in the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity.

“We are not prepared for drawing change, we are not prepared for war, we are not prepared for global shock because there is no plan at all, there is no vision at all,” said Duterte who is in the country on a personal visit.

“I’ve been a member of the cabinet, and there was no direction at all, so we need to come together and push for the administration to give what is rightfully for the country,” she added.

Duterte also expressed her disapproval of the United States deployment of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines.

Instead, she maintained the Philippines should not take sides and should balance its foreign relations with different countries.

“Iyong problema natin sa West Philippine Sea, does not make up our entire relations with China. And so, therefore, there is no reason for you to lean towards the US. You have to always stay in the middle because you are not a part of the bigger conflict,” Duterte said.

Aside from being elected Vice President, Duterte was also the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) until she quit in June 2024.

Among the criticism she also leveled at the government, the Vice President also decried what she claims is the country’s inefficiency in climate resilience and the lack of a long-term plan to make the country self-sufficient in food.

“We don’t take care of our farmers. We don’t have a food security plan, and it is already the midterm of this administration, with no plans of doing plans, of creating plans. Nothing,” Duterte said.

She noted that the administration should focus on the country’s healthcare system, infrastructure development, food security, and education.

GMA News Online has reached out to Malacañang for comments.

Better legacy

The Vice President explained that she teamed up with Marcos during the 2022 national elections since she thought he wanted a “better” legacy compared to his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“Ang buong akala ko dahil syempre diba (the whole time, I thought because) we had that dark past in our country and the principal figure of that was Marcos Sr, so I was thinking that he would want a legacy that is better than what we had before,” Duterte said, referring to the Martial Law during the elder Marcos’ regime from 1972 to 1986.

“Unfortunately, I did not bet properly with my running mate, but you know I’m sure you have doubts with the Marcoses already,” she added.

However, Duterte defended the President's sister, Senator Imee Marcos, whom she said had been her friend since 2012.

“Senator Imee Marcos is a different individual altogether, and she has been my friend since 2012. I met BBM in 2020 when they visited Davao City,” Duterte said.

Just two years after the Uniteam’s successful campaign in the 2022 national elections, Duterte, who originally wanted to assume the post of defense secretary, stepped down from her post in DepEd.

She also resigned from Lakas-CMD as its chairperson and a member, saying that she won’t be able to serve the country amid "political toxicity“ or undermined by "execrable political powerplay."

The Vice President is now facing an impeachment complaint, which includes issues surrounding the use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City.

The complaint also includes her “assassination” remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez. —RF, GMA Integrated News