VP Sara: Marcos faces ‘profound crisis of confidence’

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is facing a “profound crisis of confidence” over alleged corruption and mismanagement affecting his administration.

In a video statement, Duterte said she understood the anger and indignation of millions of Filipinos and stood with them in demanding transparency and accountability.

“The President now faces a profound crisis of confidence, especially in the way these corruption investigations are being handled, which appear to lack both direction and result,” she said.

“We also seek clear answers on how a budget that deprived Filipinos of billions and billions of pesos was approved under his watch,” Duterte added.

The Vice President made the statement amid public outcry over corruption scandals involving public works, including recent allegations that President Marcos sought the inclusion of P100 billion in fund insertions in the 2025 national budget as a supposed source of kickbacks.

“Kaisa ako ng milyong milyong Pilipinong na dismaya at nandidiri sa pamahalaang lulong sa insekuridad at walang kabusogang kasakiman,” Duterte said, alluding to ongoing protests for transparency and accountability led by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

(I stand with the millions of Filipinos who are disappointed and disgusted by a government addicted to insecurity and insatiable greed.)

“Ang karapatan nating magsalita at magpahayag ang sandigan ng demokrasya. Dapat itong pakinggan ng pamahalaan,” she added.

(Our right to speak and express ourselves is the foundation of democracy. The government must listen to it.)

Duterte said she personally witnessed the diversion of Department of Education (DepEd) funds intended to address classroom shortages, which were allegedly turned into political pork and distributed among lawmakers close to powerful figures.

“Instead of following the DepEd’s list to make up for the lack of classrooms, the funds were made into a pork barrel for the Filipino youth,” she said.

She added that she resigned as DepEd secretary because she “refused to become a part of this foolery of the people” and claimed the impeachment charges filed against her were meant to distract from the alleged manipulation of the 2025 budget.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro pushed back against Duterte's statements, urging her to explain the fund controversies hounding her office before she joins calls for transparency and accountability.

GMA News Online has reached out to the leadership of the House of Representatives for comment on Duterte’s statement and will update this story once their responses are received.—MCG, GMA Integrated News