SARA DUTERTE – First Lady Liza Marcos said Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has crossed the line.

Amid swirling rumors about tensions between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, First Lady Liza Marcos disclosed her changing perception of Vice President Sara Duterte.

She expressed feeling hurt by a supposed incident where Duterte, also serving as education secretary, allegedly laughed at a rally where President Marcos was accused of being “bangag” or high on drugs. Liza conveyed her disappointment, emphasizing her husband’s protective stance towards Duterte, with whom they had previously allied.

 Liza Marcos referenced a recent rally in Davao City where Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, made the drug addiction accusation against Marcos. Liza mentioned her past kindness towards Sara, who had run for vice president under the Marcos-led UniTeam alliance in 2022.

Reporter Anthony Taberna quoted Liza as suggesting that Sara had “crossed the line,” and questioned whether reconciliation was still possible. Liza’s response, “Bad shot na yun sa akin,” indicated her dissatisfaction, though the specific question she was responding to was unclear due to the edited nature of the teaser video. Taberna later shared Liza’s statement on Facebook, where she expressed sensitivity to her sons’ well-being.

“Ako, I don’t get pikon. I get pikon when they hurt my sons,” Liza was quoted as saying.

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Before Taberna’s interview, a video circulated online showing Liza ignoring Sara, sparking rumors of their strained relationship. In the video by Radio Television Malacañang, Marcos greeted Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and the Vice President before boarding a plane to Vietnam.

Liza, standing beside Marcos, initially moved to the board but returned to greet Bersamin with a kiss on the cheek upon noticing her husband still conversing with Sara. She then proceeded to the aircraft.

Speculation about discord among the President’s allies arose when some administration lawmakers redirected confidential funds from agencies led by the Vice President.

The elder Duterte accused Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, of mishandling discretionary funds, labeling the House of Representatives as deeply corrupt. Despite this, Marcos affirmed the strength of the UniTeam alliance during a press briefing in Hawaii last November.

In January, the former president alleged at a prayer rally that Marcos was addicted to drugs and suggested the renewed push for Charter change aimed to extend officials’ term limits. Marcos attributed his predecessor’s behavior to the possible effects of Fentanyl use.

Duterte continued his verbal assaults, branding the President a “cry baby” and “pro-America” earlier this month. In response, Marcos refrained from engaging in personal attacks, emphasizing his focus on other matters.

Even before assuming the presidency in 2022, Marcos had been the target of Duterte’s criticisms, who described him as “spoiled” and a “weak leader” with unresolved issues.