Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent diatribes against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez amid tensions with the House were censured by Eastern Visayas legislators and officials as “reckless, divisive, and baseless.”
A Joint Manifesto of Indignation denouncing Duterte’s behavior was issued by Biliran Representative Gerardo Espina Jr., Leyte Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Samar Reps. Reynolds Michael Tan and Stephen James Tan, and not fewer than 45 top brass Eastern Visayas officials.
“We, the undersigned local government leaders of Eastern Visayas, express our profound indignation at the malicious, baseless and reckless accusations made by Vice President Sara Duterte against Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,” the statement proclaimed.
The manifesto claimed Duterte’s tirades were an insult to the Waray people and its chosen leaders.
It stressed that Duterte’s “unwarranted attacks are an affront not only to a leader of impeccable integrity but also to the pride and dignity of the Waray people—whose values of resilience, hard work and honor are personified by Speaker Romualdez.”
Romualdez has “delivered real and lasting improvements to the lives of Filipinos,” said the leaders, and continues to serve the countries’ most vulnerable sectors.
Duterte had also smeared President Marcos’ legacy, they asserted, emphasizing that Marcos has also guided the nation through meaningful progress.
“Vice President Duterte’s unfounded allegations also insult the Romualdez legacy, which extends to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., who shares Waray blood through his mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos,” the manifesto stated.
“Her reckless tirades strike at the very heart of a region that has overcome countless challenges through hard work, solidarity and trust in capable leadership,” it added.
The manifesto pointed out that Duterte’s remarks are not simply personal attacks, but also attacks to the integrity or unity of the government and a violation of citizens’ trust.
“Her irresponsible statements not only destabilize the unity of the administration but also erode the trust of the Filipino people at a time when cooperation and stability are paramount,” they said.
On November 23, Duterte hosted a virtual press conference in the early morning hours, wherein she had lambasted the President, First Lady, and House Speaker and spoke of having hired an assassin to go after the three should a supposed attempt on her life succeed.
The rant was in retaliation to perceived political harassment amid the House probe on the alleged misuse of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
