VP Duterte says no personal problem with Marcos, criticizes his “weak” leadership

Vice President Sara Duterte said she has no personal conflict with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but strongly criticized his performance as the country’s leader, describing him as “weak” and blaming his administration for disorder within the government.

Duterte made the remarks during a gathering with supporters in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 30, which was streamed on the Facebook page “Alvin and Tourism.”

She was responding to a question about whether she had considered speaking with Marcos amid their widening political rift or whether anyone had attempted to mediate between them “for the sake of peace.”

“Wala kaming away ni BBM. Wala akong problema sa kanya bilang tao. May problema ako sa kanya bilang presidente dahil he’s a weak leader and the country is in chaos—not literal chaos na nagkakagulo tayo, physical chaos,” Duterte said.

She clarified that by “chaos,” she was referring to what she described as a lack of unity, discipline, and mutual respect among government officials.

“Nagkakanya-kanya ’yung mga tao sa gobyerno, wala nang respeto ang mga tao sa isa’t isa,” she said.

The Vice President maintained that her criticism of the Marcos administration was not rooted in a personal dispute. She suggested that Marcos might view their disagreement differently, but said she did not consider their conflict personal.

“That is my right as a citizen to express, so wala kaming alitan na personal na dalawa. Baka para sa kanya, meron, pero para sa akin, wala,” Duterte added.

She also defended her public statements about the administration as an exercise of her constitutional right to free expression.

“Whatever I say, whatever comment I have with this administration and with the government right now is my right to freedom of speech,” she said.

During the discussion, Duterte was also asked whether she had talked with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, about her plans in the event that she is convicted in her impeachment trial and barred from seeking public office.

The Vice President said she had not discussed the impeachment proceedings with her father. She added that even if she were removed from office, she would continue working for the country in another role.

“Hindi ko tini-take up sa kanya ’yung impeachment. Kung ako ay matanggal sa opisina, ako ay magtatrabaho pa rin para sa Pilipinas sa ibang kapasidad,” she said.

Duterte’s statements underscored the continuing political divide between the country’s two highest-ranking officials, while she insisted that her differences with Marcos concern his leadership and the direction of his administration—not their personal relationship.