Chiz hits Sara over scathing words vs BBM

Respect the dead when making statements, says priest

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

It was "unbecoming" of a ranking official like Vice President Sara Duterte to use unsavory words against President Marcos, who was her running mate in the 2022 elections, Senate President Francis Escudero said yesterday.

"Those kinds of statements are unbecoming for me from the country's second highest official. But I don't want to make a big deal out of it," Escudero said in Filipino over radio dwIZ yesterday.

"I hope she will be more circumspect in her next press conferences, that she will be more careful with the words to use," Escudero said.

"While it is anyone's right to release their anger, that should not be a reason or license to use those kinds of words," he added.

The Senate President stressed it was improper for anyone, particularly public officials, to use foul language during a live-streamed press conference, which could be viewed by minors.

At a press conference she dubbed "Drag Me To Hell" on Friday, Duterte accused the Marcos administration of ganging up on her through the House of Representatives, which is looking into her alleged irregular spending of confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she had led.

The Vice President, at the briefing, called President Marcos an incompetent leader whose head she wanted to cut off.

Duterte also threatened to throw the remains of Marcos' father and namesake in the West Philippine Sea if the attacks against her persist.

She claimed to have confided her threat to Marcos' sister, Sen. Imee Marcos.

The Marcos patriarch was allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani during the administration of the Vice President's father - former President Rodrigo Duterte - despite public opposition.

Duterte's defamatory statements at her press conference only confirmed the collapse of her alliance with Marcos just two years after their 2022 election victory under the unity platform.