VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte maintained a cautious stance on the current diplomatic row between the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and several senators and the Philippine Coast Guard official over the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.
During an ambush interview with Davao media on Thursday, the Vice President was asked for her position on Senate Resolution 37, which formally condemns recent public statements issued by the Embassy of China regarding Philippine officials.
The resolution was recently adopted by 15 senators following tensions that flared in late February.
“As vice president, my position on matters of diplomacy and foreign affairs should be aligned with the Office of the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Duterte told reporters in Filipino.
When pressed on the intensifying “word war” between Philippine and Chinese officials over the West Philippine Sea, Duterte stated she had not read such specific characterizations. She instead advocated for a broader approach to regional stability.
“For me, we should fix our relations with all our neighbors and all other countries around the world,” she added.
The vice president also declined to comment on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent decision to allow the prosecution to add new evidence in the proceedings involving her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
She noted that any formal statements regarding the matter should come directly from the former president’s defense team.
Duterte also offered a brief “no comment” when asked about the former president’s reaction to the recent passing of his sibling.
Sara dismisses early election speculation
When asked for her thoughts on the emerging “United Opposition” and potential contenders such as Senator Risa Hontiveros and former Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Duterte dismissed the political noise as premature.
“My belief is, first of all, is there even a nation? Is there even a Philippines to talk about in the year 2028?” Duterte asked.
The vice president cited a “triple threat” of deteriorating economic indicators, rampant corruption, and the government’s perceived failure in handling natural disasters as the basis for her skepticism.
She further characterized the current administration’s trajectory as “doubtful,” suggesting that the country is in a state of significant decline.
“You will think, will it still go down further? No,” she said. “Will there even be an election? Or none at all?”
However, Duterte maintained that the constitutional process remains open to all. She acknowledged that any qualified individual is free to seek the presidency, provided they follow the formal process of filing.
