Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte launched a blistering attack on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, accusing him of being unfit for office and committing impeachable offenses, Bloomberg reports.
Speaking at a live-streamed press conference, Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, declared that Marcos “doesn’t know how to be a president,” criticizing his lack of a clear governance platform. She further alleged she possesses a list of impeachable offenses against Marcos but declined to disclose specifics.
The animosity between the two top officials has intensified since Duterte resigned from Marcos’ cabinet in June. Tensions further escalated when Marcos’ allies in Congress questioned Duterte’s office’s use of confidential funds and slashed her proposed budget for next year by over 60%. Duterte countered by claiming lawmakers were attempting to build a case for her impeachment, defiantly declaring, “Drag me to hell.”
Analysts have expressed concern that the escalating disagreements could destabilize the Philippines and jeopardize its robust economic growth.
Duterte further revealed a heated exchange with Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, where she threatened to exhume the body of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and “dump it on the West Philippine Sea” if attacks against her continued. Senator Marcos reportedly did not respond.
