Vice President Sara Duterte has questioned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vow in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to jail individuals linked to the flood control scandal—including his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Speaking from The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte expressed skepticism about the President’s commitment, recalling that a similar promise made last year went unfulfilled.
”Di ba ‘yan din yung sinabi niya last year, bago mag-December may makukulong na. So meron bang makulong bago mag-Christmas?” the Vice President questioned.
”So huwag niyo na i-expect na makulong ‘yang dating speaker o mga members ng House of Representatives,” Duterte added.
In his address on Monday, July 27, President Marcos noted that according to information from the Ombudsman, several cases against the former House Speaker are close to being filed in court.
”Masakit man sa akin ito, pero kailangan nating gawin ang tama,” Marcos said during his speech.
However, Duterte argued that the Chief Executive cannot distance himself from the corruption surrounding the flood control issues, pointing out that he approved the national budget despite knowing its contents.
”Unfortunately, hindi niya pwedeng gawin na ilayo niya yung sarili niya doon sa corruption sa flood control scandal kasi siya yung pumirma ng budget,” Duterte argued.
”Yun yung impeachable offense don. Pumirma ka ng budget na alam mo madaming insertions. Na alam mo yung NEP mo hindi na siya yung lumabas na GAA,” she said.
”At kahit pa man na nakikita mo na mayroong anomalya doon, pinirmahan mo ka rin yung budget. Kaya hindi niya pwedeng ilayo yung sarili niya just by saying na ako yung Presidente na nagsabi na mahiya naman kayo at ako yung Presidente na nagpakulong,” Duterte added.
The Vice President further criticized Marcos’s past “mahiya naman kayo” statement from his fourth SONA, labeling it a public relations effort to escape accountability.
”At saka, yung sinabi niya na mahiya naman kayo, it was a PR stunt na sinali nila yung linya na yun sa speech niya na nag-backfire,” Duterte said.
”So, sinasabi niya na lang ‘yan ngayon na parang ako yung nagsabi ng mahiya naman kayo para mailayo niya yung sarili niya doon sa flood control scandal,” Duterte added.
Duterte revealed that she chose not to watch or read this year’s address, repeating her stance from the previous year due to what she considers a lack of follow-through on key promises.
”Hindi ako nanood ng SONA like last year and wala akong plano basahin ang nilalaman ng SONA o kahit man ng summary,” the Vice President said.
”Dahil I truly believe it is a waste of time of the Filipino people,” she added.
”May makukulong before Christmas. Tinupad ba hindi? So bakit pa kayo naniniwala at nanonood ng SONA?” she concluded.