Marcos’ kin speak up on Duterte ‘temper tantrum’

Metro Manila, Philippines — The kin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have spoken up days after Vice President Sara Duterte bashed the first family.

On Friday, Duterte held a press conference where she said that she daydreamed of beheading the nation’s president and threatened to dig up the grave of his father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, from the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and throw the remains into the West Philippine Sea.

Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos said he cannot stay silent.

“Her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified by such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

“I can ascertain that my emotions are shared not only by my kakailian (countrymen) in the north but across the country,” he added.

The lawmaker said his father advised him to avoid making a statement. But Sandro said “one must draw the line” which has been “long overdue.”

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, the president’s nephew and son of Senator Imee Marcos, said he was shocked by the vice president’s remarks.

Manotoc said his mother has been a “loyal friend and supporter” of Duterte.

“In my few interactions with VP Sara, she was always friendly and professional. It’s very disheartening to see her making things personal. As many say, this is just politics,” Manotoc said in a Facebook post.

Despite their dismay, Marcos and Manotoc wished Duterte well.

In a chance interview, Duterte said she would not comment on the statements.

“I will not comment sa mga anak kasi ang natural affinity ng mga anak is to defend their parents,” she said.

“Ako lang naman ang anak na hindi nagde-defend kay PRRD (former President Rodrigo Duterte) pero baliktarin natin ganun din si PRRD sa akin, ang natural na gagawin ni PRRD is to defend me,” she said.

[Translation: I will not comment on the children because the natural affinity of children is to defend their parents. I’m the only child of PRRD not defending him. But if we reverse the situation, it’s natural for PRRD to defend me.]

‘Cold reply’

But Duterte’s relationship with Sen. Imee might have been strained by the controversy.

The vice president told reporters she sent a text message to the senator after the news conference and received a “cold” reply.

Duterte did not disclose what the reply was.

She also said that the president’s sister also told a common friend that Imee was annoyed with the country’s top leaders.

“Sinabihan ko ‘yong common friend namin na sabihin mo sa kanya wag siya mainis sa akin at kay BBM (Marcos). Mainis siya kay Liza (First Lady Araneta-Marcos) at kay Martin (House Speaker Romualdez),” Duterte said.

[Translation: I told our common friend to tell Imee she should not be annoyed with me and BBM. She should be annoyed with Liza and Martin.]

Once called Uniteam, the Marcos-Duterte alliance has been crumbling ahead of the midterm elections.

The vice president said she might consider making up with Marcos once the president and his allies apologize on a number of issues, including the search of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy in the church’s compound in Davao City.