By Junex Doronio
CLAIMING THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS the outrage over the controversial P650 million for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she concurrently heads as Secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte noted that these “political challenges” are small compared to the economic challenges due to the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Deviating from her usual tough image, she has called for a halt to “nasty mudslinging and politicking” as the country faces tough economic times.
“Hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa sa inyo na tutukan ang paghahanda sa darating na panahon ng taghirap lalo na sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin,” Duterte said in an apparent subtle jab at the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., of which she is a part.
Inday Sara — as she is fondly called by her supporters — appealed instead for “unity and cooperation” in facing challenges such as soaring oil and food prices.
“May oras para sa lahat at hindi ito ang panahon ng paninira at pamumulitika lalo na malayo pa ang susunod na eleksyon,” the Vice President said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Duterte’s latest appeal came on the heels of her controversial spending of P125 million confidential fund in just 11 days in 2022.
The House of Representatives led by her political archnemesis Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez decided to strip Duterte’s CIF in 2024 and realign the funds to security agencies dealing with the West Philippine Sea concerns. (ai/mnm)
