VP Duterte should be ‘last person’ to seek Marcos resignation – solon

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is “the last person” who should ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign because of a “conflict of interest,” Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Thursday.

Adiong explained that this was clearly a conflict of interest on Duterte’s part, as she is the main person who would stand to benefit from Marcos’ resignation.

She also announced her plans to run for president in the 2028 elections.

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READ: Vice President Sara Duterte announces 2028 presidential bid

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“I think for someone who has already indicated her desire to run for the presidency, I think she should be the last person to ask the sitting president to resign because that is entirely a political stand,” Alonto Adiong said at a press briefing. “They don’t want these issues to be politicized, but they are the ones who are the first to politicize.”

“It is very clear who stands to benefit when the president resigns. The vice president is the next in line to succeed if there’s a vacancy in the Office of the President,” he added. “So I think it’s only on a level of propriety.”

It was last week when Duterte called on Marcos to resign anew after accusing his administration of corruption, abuse, and political harassment.

READ: Sara Duterte calls on Marcos to resign: ‘You’re a liar, abusive’

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Her spokesperson, Atty. Paolo Panelo Jr., defended her pronouncement, saying she was elected to succeed the president should he resign, making her call neither self-serving nor a conflict of interest.

Ex-President Duterte’s ICC appearance

Meanwhile, both Adiong and Manila Rep. Joel Chua wished Vice President Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, well after he appeared in person before the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

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The former president’s appearance before the ICC marked the first time he was seen by the public in 18 months, or since he was detained by the court.

“We wish him well,” Chua said in the same press conference.

“What is important is that the case is ongoing, and again, similar to what Congressman Chua said, we do really wish him well,” Adiong said.

The former president is facing three counts of crimes against humanity due to his administration’s bloody war against drugs, which resulted in the death of at least 6,000 people based on government records and over 30,000 based on human rights records, including children as young as three years old.

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Last April, the ICC confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against him and committed him to trial over alleged killings connected with his anti-drug campaign during his tenure as Davao City mayor and Philippine president. He has denied wrongdoing. /mcm