During a press conference held on October 18 in her office in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her fierce criticisms of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She not only threatened to dig up the remains of Marcos’ dictator father and throw them into the sea but also revealed that she had contemplated “chopping off” Marcos’ head.
According to reports from The Guardian, Sara and Marcos had previously allied during the 2022 presidential election, where they formed a campaign team that achieved a landslide victory. However, after resigning as Secretary of Education in June, Sara has been embroiled in a heated power struggle between their two political dynasties in the lead-up to next year’s midterm elections, with both sides preparing for the 2028 presidential race. The stakes are particularly high for the Duterte family, as Sara’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial “war on drugs,” which is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
At the press conference, Sara launched her most aggressive attack to date against President Marcos, stating that the Philippines is on a “path to hell.” She criticized his administration for lacking clear policies to address inflation and food security, further stating that the thought of “chopping off his head” had crossed her mind.
Sara expressed feelings of being “used” after their alliance during the 2022 elections and cited a specific incident that made her realize the relationship had become toxic. She recounted how a young graduate had asked Marcos for his watch as a graduation gift, only to be met with condescension and mockery, which embarrassed the graduate. Sara said, “I wanted to take his head. I realized the relationship had become toxic,” adding emphatically, “I was just imagining myself chopping off his head,” while gesturing with her hands.
Tensions between Sara and Marcos have escalated recently, particularly after allegations surfaced regarding Sara’s involvement in misusing public funds, as well as congressional hearings on the “war on drugs,” which included claims that Duterte’s office offered police bonuses of up to $17,000 for killing drug suspects. Sara has denied any wrongdoing, and Duterte has also refuted claims of authorizing killings.
Furthermore, Sara stated that if political attacks against her persist, she would go so far as to “dig up your father’s remains and throw them into the West Philippine Sea,” a term used by the Philippines to refer to parts of the South China Sea.
In response to these explosive comments, President Marcos’ Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez conveyed that the President would not be commenting on Sara’s remarks.