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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos gov't is face of corruption, abuses—VP Sara

Marcos gov't is face of corruption, abuses—VP Sara

Published Sep 22, 2025 01:10 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte appears before a House panel to defend her office's proposed 2026 budget at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Santi San Juan/Manila Bulletin))
Vice President Sara Duterte appears before a House panel to defend her office's proposed 2026 budget at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Santi San Juan/Manila Bulletin))
Vice President Sara Duterte described the Marcos administration as the “face of corruption and abuse,” criticizing President Marcos himself for failing to hold Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez accountable for the multi-billion flood control mess.

Speaking during a Filipino community-organized rally in Nagoya, Japan on Sunday, Sept. 21, the Vice President did not mince words as she criticized the Marcos government for the “kidnapping” of former president Rodrigo Duterte and for the anomalous flood control corruption scandal.
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“Ang corruption ay pang-aabuso. Ang mukha ng pamahalaan ngayon ay pang-aabuso at korapsyon. Ang ginawa nila kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay pang-aabuso (Corruption is abuse. The government is now the face of corruption and abuse. What they did to former president Rodrigo Duterte is abuse),” she said.

The younger Duterte was referring to the extradition of the former chief executive to The Hague, Netherlands, where he has been detained since March for crimes against humanity of murder charges.

She insisted that people accused of crimes must be brought before a Filipino court, but her father was not accorded this opportunity.

“At ang ginawa nila, kinidnap nila si dating pangulong Duterte. Pang-aabuso. Ano pa ang kanyang offense sa bayan at sa taumbayan (What they did was to kidnap former president Duterte. That’s abuse. What was his offense to the nation and the people)?,” she asked.

The Vice President instead pointed to Marcos as the one who failed in his mandate to “preserve and defend the Constitution, implement its laws, and consecrate yourself to the service of your country.”

Vice President Sara Duterte speaks before the Filipino community at the Miwa Cultural Center in Ama City, Nagoya on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Esguerra via Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks before the Filipino community at the Miwa Cultural Center in Ama City, Nagoya on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Esguerra via Facebook)
She claimed that because of his need to boost his performance ratings, he inadvertently opened the floodgates of corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“So anong ginawa ng Diyos? Mahiya naman kayo, nilubog sa baha ang Pilipinas. At ngayon, lumabas na ang sa DPWH (So, what did God do? Have some shame, the Philippines got flooded. And now, we see what’s happening with the DPWH),” she said, referring to Marcos’ remark in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In his SONA, the President called out DPWH and contractors to “have some shame” because of the ghost and substandard flood control projects.

But the younger Duterte scoffed at her former ally’s sincerity, questioning why Co and Romualdez remain scot-free.

“Bakit noon ok pa sila ni BBM, wala siyang problema sa puso. Bakit ngayon meron ng problema sa puso si Zaldy Co? Nakuha nilang kunin si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Pilipinas ng sapilitan. Bakit hindi nila mapabalik si Zaldy Co sa Pilipinas (Why was it when he was still okay with BBM, he has no problem with his heart. Why does Zaldy Co suddenly have a heart program? They kidnapped former president Rodrigo Duterte from the Philippines. Why can’t they do the same to Zaldy Co)?,” she asked.

“At bakit hindi nila magawang ipasok sa detention unit ng House of Representatives si Martin Romualdez? Bakit? Kasi hindi siya sincere. Hindi siya tapat sa kanyang mga dapat gawin (And why not put Martin Romualdez in detention at the House of Representatives? Why? Because he is not sincere. He is not sincere with what he has to do),” she added.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte President Marcos japan face of corruption Rodrigo Duterte
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