VP Sara Duterte: No destabilization vs. gov't

Vice President Sara Duterte said on Tuesday that there is no destabilization plot against the government amid the ongoing anti-corruption protests in the country. 

“Yung destabilization, nanggagaling lang naman ‘yan sa administrasyon eh. Wala namang destabilization na nangyayari," Duterte said.

"Nagsasalita lang yung mga tao at nai-insecure lang or natatakot lang yung administration sa lakas nung boses ng mga tao,” she said in a press conference when asked about the protests being staged," she added.

(That destabilization, that only comes from the administration. There is no destabilization happening. The people are just speaking, and the administration is just insecure or afraid of the strength of the people's voices.) 

“Pero sa totoo lang, walang nagpaplano ng destabilisasyon. Normal ang pagpapahayag ng isang tao sa kanyang nararamdaman. Pansin ko, yung destabilization na word, salita, nanggagaling siya lagi sa administrasyon," Duterte said.

"Kasi nai-insecure sila at natatakot sila kasi lumalakas yung boses ng tao,” she added. 

(No one is planning a destabilization. It is normal for a person to express what they feel. I notice, the word, the term destabilization, it always comes from the administration. Because they are insecure and they are afraid because the people's voice is getting stronger.) 

Rallies have been staged in parts of the country as people call for action and accountability in the anomaly in the country’s flood control projects, which involved several public officials and construction firms. 

Duterte said the protesters have the right to let their voices be heard. She noted that the administration is lacking in its response to corruption. 

“That is the essence of democracy - walang good governance, walang demokrasya kung hindi nakakapagsalita ang mga tao, kung  ano yung katotohanan na nakikita ng sarili nilang mata, in the hope na yung gobyerno ay makikinig," Duterte said.

"Hindi nagkukulang yung mga tao sa pagsasabi kung ano yung mali, nagkukulang yung administrasyon sa pagtugon sa mali,” she added. 

(That is the essence of democracy - there is no good governance, there is no democracy if the people cannot speak, [cannot say] what truth they see with their own eyes, in the hope that the government will listen. The people are not lacking in speaking about what is wrong; the administration is lacking in responding to what is wrong.) 

Pointless call

Duterte also said calling for Marcos' resignation is pointless.

“That is a pointless call. Hindi magre-resign ‘yan. Nakita ninyo ba ‘yung tatay, 20 years? Tingnan ninyo ‘yung DNA niya na ayaw ‘yan umalis ng puwesto,” Duterte said.

(That is a pointless call. He won’t resign. You saw his father, right? He stayed for 20 years. Look at his DNA — he won’t leave his position.)

The Vice President clarified that she has never called for Marcos to resign but urged him to focus on performing his duties.

She also reiterated the call for the President to take a drug test and address the issues surrounding the proposed national budget. She further criticized what she described as the administration’s insufficient efforts to curb corruption.

The Vice President said she does not believe in the integrity of the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure, noting that it was created by Marcos himself.

In response to the Vice President, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro pointed out that the present administration is addressing corruption, which the previous administration failed to do. 

“Puro salita.. puro bintang, walang ebidensya, walang kwenta. Alam na ang totoo..nilalabanan ni Pangulong Marcos, Jr. ang korapsyon ngayon na hindi nagawa ng dating administrasyon noon. Ang mas malala ay dinepensahan pa nila noon ang mga 'di umanong umabuso sa kaban ng bayan' kagaya ng sa Pharmally scandal. Nililinis ngayon ang mga kinalat nila noon. Huwag ilihis ang mga naging kasalanan nila sa bayan,” said Castro in a statement. 

(All talk... all accusations, no evidence, worthless. The truth is known... President Marcos, Jr. is fighting corruption now which the former administration failed to do before. What's worse is that they even defended those who allegedly abused the nation's treasury, like in the Pharmally scandal. What they scattered before is being cleaned up now. Do not deflect the faults they committed against the nation.)

Meanwhile, Duterte said she’s not surprised by being referred to by House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima as “brat,” saying that such remarks are part of the narrative of her detractors. 

“Ang administration, that is led by Malacanang Palace, ang Makabayan, Akbayan, ang members of the Liberal Party, yung mga pink and yellow…meron silang narrative about Inday Sara. Kung napapansin niyo, paulit-ulit lang ‘yan na sinasabi nila,” Duterte said. 

(The administration, that is led by Malacanang Palace, the Makabayan, Akbayan, the members of the Liberal Party, the pink and yellow ones...they have a narrative about Inday Sara. If you notice, that's just what they repeatedly say.) 

The House of Representatives decided earlier to cut the 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from its original proposal of P889.2 million to P733.2 million, citing Duterte’s refusal to defend the proposed appropriation before the House plenary.

“Public money is not a toy. Until the Vice President learns respect, we must act like a parent that disciplines a brat,” de Lima said.  –NB/AOL, GMA Integrated News