Vice President Sara Duterte has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of using allegations linking her to China as a national security issue to deflect from problems facing his administration. In a video statement, she said these include corruption, economic difficulties, and the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Duterte, treating her as a national security concern could give Malacañang a basis to use the full force of the state, including intelligence and law enforcement agencies, to monitor and pressure her. She claimed this would be done "in the name of politics," and that the move was meant to ultimately bring her down. She also said the President's remarks carry a warning for Filipino businesspeople who deal with China, and that they accuse China of interfering in the Philippines' internal affairs. In her view, the accusation is baseless and a risky challenge to a country with a long history of ties to the Philippines. She warned this could seriously affect the country's relationship with China.
Duterte further alleged that Marcos is trying to cover up what she described as failures to improve Filipinos' lives, strengthen the economy and institutions, protect the youth from violence, and address corruption. She cited what she called questionable insertions in the national budget for political allies, widespread criminality, and the recent near-entry of tons of illegal drugs into the country. She also alleged that the President's statement on China is meant to hide his failure to manage the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. She said this could put the Philippines at risk and affect the security and stability of the wider Asian region.
Duterte ended her statement by saying Filipinos can expect only more hardship under Marcos' leadership, and that if the country is endangered, it is at his hands. She closed by urging the public to stay vigilant.
Source: video courtesy of Vice President Sara Duterte