President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued to deflect questions about growing tensions with Vice President Sara Duterte, dodging reporters’ inquiries during a recent visit to the Libingan ng mga Bayani and in a follow-up on Friday.
When asked whether his relationship with VP Duterte had reached a “point of no return” after their recent public exchanges, President Marcos simply replied, “Let’s talk about it some other time,” offering no further clarification.
This terse answer echoed his earlier remarks when he refrained from addressing Duterte’s threat to exhume his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and throw his remains into the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos declined to comment further, stating only, “I’d rather not.”
During his visit to his father’s grave, Marcos focused instead on expressing gratitude to supporters who gathered for a mass in honor of his father, thanking them for their loyalty, especially during Undas.
“This year’s Undas is even more meaningful because of your presence, and especially because we feel the love you have for my father and the way you remember him,” he said.
The President’s reluctance to engage on this subject has fueled speculation about a widening rift between the country’s top two leaders.
VP Duterte’s tirades against her former running mate shocked the nation as she called President Marcos the reason why the Philippines is on the “road to hell.”
She also criticized him, claiming she was exploited for political gain during his 2022 campaign, despite her initial reluctance to run for vice president.
However, VP Duterte stated that reconciliation with the President and the current administration hinges on their willingness to issue an apology to the victims affected by what she described as “illegal raids” on the religious compounds of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
