Metro Manila, Philippines – “Lahat na lang ng ilegal ay ipinapahid sa akin,” Vice President Sara Duterte said when asked about the newly-launched probe by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on her family’s alleged properties in relation to claims made by Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
“Lahat na ay ginawa ko kuno at lahat din ay gagawin din nila para pabagsakin ako,” she added.
[Translation: I’ve been accused of doing everything illegal. They will also do everything to bring me down.]
In a separate statement issued after she joined the kickoff event of her office’s 91st anniversary celebration, Duterte accused the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of seeing her as a threat following his remark that her alleged financial links to China is a national security issue if proven true.
“At dahil diyan, binibigyang-katwiran ng Malacañang ang paggamit ng buong pwersa ng estado, kabilang na ang intelligence agencies at law enforcement agencies, na ako ay manmanan, gipitin, at tuluyang pabagsakin sa ngalan ng pulitika,” Duterte said.
[Translation: And because of that, Malacañang justifies the state using its full force, including intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies, to monitor me, harass me, and ultimately bring me down in the name of politics.]
Additionally, she said Marcos has failed to improve the lives of Filipinos, strengthen the country’s economy and its institutions, as well as protect the youth from violence.
She also claimed that Marcos has dangerously challenged China by accusing it of interfering in internal affairs, and this is an effort to cover up his failure to properly respond to the territorial dispute on the West Philippine Sea, which may also endanger other countries in the ASEAN region.
“Nais kong sabihin sa inyo na sa ngayon, wala na tayong aasahan pa sa pamumuno ni Bongbong Marcos kundi dagdag na pasakit at hirap,” Duterte said. “At kung nanganganib man ang ating bansa — nanganganib ito sa kamay ni Bongbong Marcos,” she added.
[Translation: I want to tell you that for now, we can expect nothing from the leadership of Bongbong Marcos but more pain and hardship. And if our country is in danger — it is in danger at the hands of Bongbong Marcos.]
Duterte has denied all corruption allegations made against her, including claims by former Senator Antonio Trillanes III that she received around P150 million from China through her Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, and accusations by ex-patrolman Gracioso that she was delivered cash-filled suitcases as instructed by former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
