President Marcos said that the recent statements of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will neither affect his working relationship with Vice President Sara Duterte, nor prompt him to replace her as the Education chief.
"It will not affect our working relationship with the Vice President, Secretary of Education," Marcos said in an interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, April 23.
He is confident that Duterte is not taking the First Lady's statements in a negative manner, considering that as a wife, she also understands "how the First Lady feels.
"I think that she, also as a wife, understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband," he said.
"But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niyang masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya yung mga nagsabi ng tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat yung isyu (But VP Sara and I will talk. She does not have to take it too seriously because she was not the one who said those statements. Perhaps these issues will be ironed out easily)," he added.
The President also pointed out that the First Lady did not come from a political family, justifying her reaction towards hurtful words and allegations thrown at him by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Marcos also said that he and the Vice President do not need to patch anything but he will talk with Duterte about the sentiments expressed by the First Lady.
"I don’t think we need to patch anything up. She understands, as a wife herself, the sentiments of the First Lady," he said.
"Our conversation will be precisely that: I’m sure you’ll understand how she feels. Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn na magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita (The First Lady is not used to politics. While we are already numb over inults. She is not from a political family so she still needs to learn to let hurtful words pass)," he added.
The Chief Executive also underscored that Cabinet secretaries will be replaced only if they are not performing their mandates.
"Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa yung trabaho nila (if they are not doing their job). All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday (If you can no longer do it, you're sick, just tell us and we will replace you. If they are no longer performing and is corrupt, we will definitely fire them. And Inday is not like that)," Marcos said.
Marcos gave these reactions following the First Lady's statement that Duterte crossed the line when she laughed over her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, calling Marcos "bangag" (stoned) in a rally in Davao City in January.