Only either her imprisonment or death will make the Marcos administration stop its political attacks against her family, Vice President Sara Duterte said.

In a media interview in Zamboanga City, the Vice President pointed out how desperation can lead people to do “worst things.”

“Yes,” she responded on May 4 when asked if she expects more attacks coming her way after the physical injuries and grave threats charges against her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.

“Kasi (Because), desperate people, they can think of the worst things to do. So, oo. Naisip ko yan na hindi talaga titigil hanggang hindi ako makulong or mamatay. Iyon na lang naman talaga ang hindi pa nila nagagawa sa ngayon (yes. I’ve thought about it already that they will not stop until I’m jailed or dead. Those are the only ones they haven’t done now),” she added.

The Vice President claimed that local politics in Davao have no hand in the recent issue against her brother, stressing that it was purely the direction of the national government.

“Ah, sa palagay ko wala. Palagay ko, walang kinalaman iyong mga candidates ni Marcos sa Davao City sa pag-file ng case (Ah, I think no. I don’t think Marcos’ candidates in Davao City have something to do with the filing of the case). This is purely Philippine National Police at (and) CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group),” Duterte said.

“Isa iyon sa mga strategy ng national na pabagsakin iyong pamilya namin (That’s one of the strategies of the national to bring our family down),” she explained.

The official seemed unperturbed by the CCTV footage of her brother as he allegedly harassed and assaulted a businessman in a Davao City bar back in February, saying that they have lawyers to take care of the issues hurled against them—her father’s arrest and detention in The Hague, her impeachment trial that’s set to begin in July, and the criminal complaint against her brother.

But she also said there is a “bright side” to what is now going on because the people can make “informed decision” in choosing the candidates to vote for.

Duterte also reminded Malacañang—after refusing to address her former running mate, President Marcos, because it would be Palace Press Officer Claire Castro who will answer for him anyway—that covering up their failures with political attacks will not fool Filipinos.

“Pero, kung mayroon akong gustong sabihin sa administrasyon ay hindi nila mababawi iyong kakulangan o kawalan nila ng proyekto, ng programa, at ng mga plano para sa kaunlaran ng ating bayan (But if there’s something I would like to tell the administration, it’s that they cannot cover up their shortcomings and lack of projects, programs, and plans for the progress of the country),” she said.

“Hindi nila mababawi iyon (They cannot cover that up) by attacking their political enemies kasi nararamdaman ng mga tao iyong gutom, iyong kahirapan, at lahat na problema ng bayan (because people are hungry, impoverished, and they can feel the impact of the country’s problems),” she added.

Duterte pointed out that what the people want to see are not political attacks, but they want to see development projects, peace, and progress.

“So, kahit anong atake nila sa amin hindi pa rin babango iyong administrasyon. Hindi pa rin makikita iyong sinasabi nilang Bagong Pilipinas kasi mararamdaman at makikita ng taumbayan iyon (whatever attack they aim at us, the administration will not look good. We still cannot see the New Philippines because the people will be able to feel and see that [if it happens]),” she stressed.