Top leaders of the House of Representatives lashed out at Vice President Sara Duterte for implying President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. lacks leadership skills, saying that she, not the Chief Executive, is the one who embodies poor leadership.
Duterte's remarks during her press conference were sharply criticized by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe.
"Vice President Duterte, not President Marcos, has failed as a leader. She mismanaged public funds and let the Department of Education (DepEd) fall apart under her watch," Gonzales pointed out.
"The country's disastrous performance in the PISA, showing a five- to six-year lag in learning competencies, is a direct result of her failed leadership," he added, referring to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment.
Dalipe didn't hold back either, calling Duterte's resignation from DepEd "the best decision she ever made."
"Her departure saved the education system from further decline. Under her, DepEd was in free fall, and the entire education sector suffered," Dalipe said.
He continued, "President Marcos's appointment of Secretary Sonny Angara is a huge step toward repairing the damage she left behind."
The House leaders contrasted Duterte's failures with President Marcos's strong leadership on the economy and international affairs and his efforts to ensure that the public, especially the most vulnerable, receives much-needed assistance.
"President Marcos is delivering where it matters—stabilizing the economy, fighting inflation, ensuring food security, and ensuring the most vulnerable are provided with vital support. That's real leadership, not the evasion and incompetence we saw from Duterte," Gonzales said.
Dalipe emphasized the President's firm stance on the West Philippine Sea, praising his defense of Philippine sovereignty against Chinese aggression, in contrast to Duterte's silence on the issue, which has bolstered suspicions that she is pro-China.
"President Marcos is standing up for our country on the global stage, especially against China. His diplomatic efforts are a clear mark of strong, decisive leadership," Dalipe said.
The lawmakers slammed Duterte's latest remarks as nothing more than a desperate attempt to deflect from her failures, including her mismanagement of government funds.
"The Vice President's attack on the President is pure deflection. She's the one who failed as a leader, and now she's trying to shift the blame. The Filipino people see through this," Gonzales said.
Gonzales and Dalipe reaffirmed their full support for President Marcos, urging Duterte to admit her leadership failures instead of attacking others.
"The truth is simple: President Marcos is leading with strength, while Duterte is running from accountability," Dalipe said.
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