Vice President Sara Duterte emphasized on Friday that she is leveraging her position and platform to guide government officials on effective leadership and command. This statement was in apparent response to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s earlier remark suggesting that Duterte should use her position to address issues in the country tangibly.
“We, Filipinos, deserve better. So, I am using my position, resources, and platform to be the voice for my fellow Filipinos who are left unheard,” Duterte stated.
Duterte shared personal experiences with flooding in Davao City, recounting damage to her family’s home and tragic loss of lives during her tenure as mayor.
“Nasira ang mga kagamitan namin at puro burak ang kapaligiran — hindi siya nakakatuwa. Naranasan ko ring maglakad sa tubig baha na hanggang dibdib at tuluyang lumangoy na lamang — hindi siya masaya. Naranasan ko maging mayor at may namatay na 30 katao nang dahil sa isang flash flood — hanggang ngayon masakit pa rin sa damdamin ko ito,” she shared.
(Our things were damaged and there was mud everywhere—it is not funny. I have also experienced walking into chest-deep floodwater and later on swimming—it is not a happy feeling. When I was a mayor, 30 people died because of a flash flood—it breaks my heart until now.)
Duterte emphasized her proactive approach during her mayoral term, advocating for a flood control and drainage study with NEDA XI to guide the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and DPWH in project implementation.
She noted that the “Master Plan and Feasibility Study for Flood Control,” initiated in September 2016 and published in July 2023, should now be funded for infrastructure projects.
“Nasimulan noong Setyembre 2016 at na-publish noong Hulyo 2023 ang Master Plan and Feasibility Study for Flood Control. Baka naman gusto nang pondohan ang mga infrastructure projects na naaayon sa masterplan? O baka naman may alinlangan pa hinggil dito dahil Duterte ang mayor at mas mamarapatin nilang gibain na lang?” she said.
(They started the Master Plan and Feasibility Study for Flood Control in September 2016 and published it in July 2023. They should now fund infrastructure projects based on a master plan. Or maybe they are having doubts because the name of the mayor is Duterte and would rather destroy it.)
Duterte expressed gratitude to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their assistance in Davao City and criticized leaders driven by money and illegal substances, referencing a viral video involving First Lady Liza Marcos and Escudero.
“Leadership is faithfulness to the oath of office. Leadership is faithful service to the people. Leaders should only say one thing — that ‘it is done,'” Duterte said.
“Leaders should not be motivated by cash, cocaine, or champagne. And, most certainly, leaders should not be made to hold champagne glasses. Again — We, Filipinos, deserve better. We, Filipinos, should be the best,” she added.
The video in question, from a Vin d’Honneur event in June, showed First Lady Liza Marcos grabbing Escudero’s champagne glass and sipping from it. The First Lady previously expressed ill feelings toward Vice President Duterte after her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called Marcos “bangag” (high on drugs) at a prayer rally in Davao City.
GMA News Online has reached out to Malacañang and Escudero for comments on Duterte’s statement but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.