Roman pinpoints when it all went downhill for Marcos-Duterte 'love team'

BY Joseph Pedrajas
Mar 11, 2025 05:52 AM

At a glance

  • Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman on Tuesday, March 11, said that she previouslyhad faith in the political relationship between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte until she realized that the latter was already becoming "antagonistic" toward the former.

20240918_131704.jpgVice President Sara Duterte (left), President Marcos (MANILA BULLETIN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman on Tuesday, March 11, said that she previously had faith in the political relationship between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte until she realized that the latter was already becoming "antagonistic" toward the former.

Roman said she was among those who fought for the UniTeam—the alliance of the two leaders during the May 2022 elections—because she believed that it was through unity that the government could succeed in implementing its vision for the country.

However, she said that just like in some relationships, there are some fallouts.

"Alam niyo tatapatin ko kayo. Pinagalaban ko 'tong love team na to eh... Umasa ako na sana sa papamagitan ng pagkakaisa, maisusulong natin ang ating bansa (I will be frank with you. I fought for this 'love team' because I hoped that through unity, we could advance our agenda for the country)," she said in a press conference.

"Pero katulad ng isang relasyon, hindi lang naman pwedeng isang bahagi ang nag-eefort. Nakita ko naman may effort kay Pangulong Marcos to incorporate and to involve VP Sara (But just like any relationship, it won't work if only one side is fighting for it. I saw the President making efforts to incorporate and involve Duterte in the government). She was given so many prerogatives even beyond her position as vice president... Pero anong sinukli (But what did she give in return)?" Roman added.

The lady lawmaker was referring to the times the Vice President-aligned senators attempted to initiate a probe into Marcos' alleged drug use as well as the Vice President's very public death threats against Marcos.

Roman appeared to struggle to understand where Duterte was coming from when she recently claimed she was scammed by Marcos to form the UniTeam alliance.

Maybe Duterte had expectations, Roman said.

"Pero ako naniniwala ako na (But I believe that) before you expect something from somebody, you should also be willing to give what you demand," she added.