Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte called for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign on Friday, Sept. 11, as she addressed supporters after appearing before a Quezon City court over her grave threats case.
Duterte urged supporters gathered along Elliptical Road to continue pressing for the president’s removal, describing him as a problem facing the country.
“Tandaan ninyo, patuloy tayong manawagan ng paglayas ng problema ng ating bayan na ang pangalan ay Bongbong Marcos,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Remember, let us continue calling for the removal of the problem facing our country, whose name is Bongbong Marcos.]
“Resign! Umalis ka diyan!” Duterte added.
[Translation: Resign! Leave that position!]
Under the Constitution, the vice president is the first in the line of succession when the president resigns, becomes disabled, or is removed from office. The next are the President of the Senate, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Duterte also accused Marcos of lying and abuse, while questioning his gratitude toward Filipinos who elected him.
“Sinungaling ka. Abusado ka. Wala siyang utang na loob sa taong-bayan. Wala siyang utang na loob sa lahat ng presinto para iluklok siya sa pwesto. Wala siyang hiya,” Duterte said.
[Translation: You are a liar. You are abusive. He has no gratitude toward the Filipino people or those who put him in office. He has no shame.]
Duterte said the administration is going after those who speak the truth.
“Walang ginagawa ang administrasyon ni Marcos kundi habulin ang mga taong nagsasabi ng totoo,” she said.
[Translation: The Marcos administration does nothing but go after people who tell the truth.]
Duterte said she had personally witnessed what she described as abuses under Marcos. She added that she could not remain silent while Filipinos continued to struggle, pointing particularly to families affected by flooding.
“Mahal ko kayo. Hindi ko magawang umalis. Hindi ko magawang tumahimik na lang dahil nakikita ko kayong lumalangoy sa baha, dahil nakikita ko kayong hirap na hirap, para sa inyong pamilya,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I love you. I cannot leave. I cannot simply remain silent when I see you wading through floodwaters and struggling so much for your families.]
She also urged supporters to continue fighting people she characterized as abusive, corrupt and addicted to drugs.
“Patuloy tayong makipaglaban sa mga abusado, sa mga adik at sa mga korap,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Let us continue fighting the abusive, the addicts and the corrupt.]
Duterte delivered the speech after appearing before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for her scheduled arraignment on three counts of grave threats. The arraignment was deferred pending a motion filed by her lawyers.
The charges stem from Duterte’s November 2024 online briefing, where she said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House Speaker Romualdez if she herself were killed.
She is facing the same charge in her impeachment trial, as well as allegations of misuse of hundreds of millions in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and bribery.
Her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, accompanied her as she addressed supporters gathered along Elliptical Road.
