📷Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla and Senate President Chiz Escudero said that Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent tirades against the Marcoses during a televised press briefing were unsettling and unacceptable.
Remulla and Escudero issued separate remarks after Duterte warned Senator Imee Marcos that she would exhume former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and throw them into the West Philippine Sea.
During his radio program with DZRH over the weekend, Remulla said Duterte’s latest remark could be considered a form of desecration of the dead, which is a violation under the Revised Penal Code.
“Foul talaga yon. Desecration of the dead yun. May violation sa revised penal code yon,” Remulla said, noting the serious implications of such a statement.
“It does not speak of a sane and clear-thinking person. Iba na yan,” Remulla said, further describing the Vice President’s state as “non compos mentis,” which suggests that her actions and words may be coming from a place of mental instability.
Remulla also recounted how Duterte allegedly mentioned contemplating extreme actions against the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where the Vice President said she wanted to cut off Marcos Jr.’s head after an incident at a Philippine Military Academy graduation ceremony, where a graduate asked for the President’s watch as a gift. Marcos didn’t give the watch, which Duterte claimed humiliated the student and showed his insincerity.
Remulla found this alarming, adding that the Vice President’s words had reached a point of danger.
“Sabi ko nga buti na lang hindi siya tumakbo ng presidente baka nanalo pa. Baka malaman na natin talaga what she’s made of,” Remulla said.
In a separate statement, Escudero said Duterte should have been more circumspect in releasing public statements, describing the move as “unbecoming of the second highest official of the land.”
“Sana maging mas maingat sa mga salitang binibitiwan. Bahagi marahil ang paglalabas ng sama ng loob sa buhay ng tao pero hindi siguro rason ‘yun at lisensya na buksan ang paggamit ng mga salita na napapakinggan ng bata man o matanda. Unbecoming ang mga ganyang uri ng pahayag lalo na sa pangalawang pinakamataas na opisyal ng ating bansa,” Escudero said.
“Tulad ng marami, nagulat at hind ko inasahan ‘yun. Paalala lang sa ilang opisyal natin, isama na ‘yung sinabi ni (Davao City) Mayor Baste na dudurugin niya raw na parang Marawi ang Ilocos Norte kapag siya ay naging defense secretary, hindi ito salita na dapat ginagamit ng mga opisyal at hindi ito bagay na pwede idaan sa biro o isang katatawanan na kwento lamang,” he added.
After exiting the Marcos Cabinet in June, the Vice President has become the subject of a congressional investigation over alleged fund misuse. Her departure as education secretary signaled the breakdown of the powerful “Uniteam” alliance that secured the Marcos-Duterte victory in the 2022 elections. (TCSP)
