Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Asked about the Possibility of Assuming the Presidency
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President confirmed that she is ready to assume the presidency if Pres. Bongbong Marcos will resign.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos is surrounded by several issues now including the illegal drug use and corruption accusations. Senator Imee Marcos recently accused PBBM of allegedly using illegal drugs and called for him to go home and undergo treatment.
The accusation of the presidential sister came after Zaldy Co tagged Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the budget insertion issue in the Philippine government. According to the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative, the President and the then-Speaker allegedly masterminded a P100 billion budget insertion in the 2025 national budget.
Co also accused Marcos Jr. and Romualdez of allegedly receiving a P56 billion kickback all by themselves. Malacañang immediately defended the President citing that allegations against Co are based on evidence, testimonies, and the growth of his wealth.
The Palace called on Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him and testify under oath. According to Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, the resigned House member allegedly wants the investigation to stop so he tagged the President.
Amid the corruption allegations against the President, the Palace spoke on the calls for the resignation of Marcos Jr. amid the corruption issues and said that a small population of the Filipinos allegedly want it. Following the illegal drug use allegations against the Chief Executive, Malacañang said that resigning is not an option for Marcos Jr. and his administration.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was asked about her readiness to be the president if Pres. Bongbong Marcos will resign from his position. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Vice President stressed that she always knew that she’s the next in line.
“There is no question about my readiness. I presented myself to you when I was a candidate for vice president with the understanding that I am the first in line in succession,” Duterte said.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte further expressed that it is her mandate to assume the position if the President could no longer fulfill his duties. Based on the report, she stressed that she presented herself to the public and she was voted to be the vice president who is the next in line.
“Pinresenta ko sa inyo, tumakbo ako bilang vice president. Alam ko na first in line ako sa succession. Wala nang tanong dun kung ano ang gagawin ko. Yun ang mandate sa akin ng Constitution, at alam ko yun noong ako ay tumakbo at binoto niyo ako as Vice President knowing that I am the first in line,” the Vice President added.
Previously, amid the calls for the resignation of the President, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte asserted that she never called for Pres. Bongbong Marcos to resign.