Philippines’ Marcos Jnr intervenes in feud between first lady, Vice-President Duterte: ‘she still has a lot to learn’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr dismissed calls to remove VP Sara Duterte as education chief amid her row with first lady Liza Araneta Marcos

Marcos Jnr said his wife’s inexperience in politics led to her outburst

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, standing beside first lady Liza Marcos, holds hands with Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, at their inauguration ceremony on June 30, 2022 in Manila. Photo: AP

Published: 2:44pm, 24 Apr 2024Updated: 2:57pm, 24 Apr 2024

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has sought to keep a lid on a growing feud between Vice-President Sara Duterte and his wife by brushing aside calls to sack her as education chief, saying the first lady “still has a lot to learn”.

Liza Araneta Marcos’s rift with her husband’s deputy emerged last week after she chided the politician for reportedly laughing when her father and ex-leader Rodrigo Duterte called the president a “drug addict” at a rally in January.

Liza Marcos said she was “hurt” and Sara Duterte had “crossed the line”.

The vice-president responded by saying the first lady’s personal feelings have nothing to do with her mandate as a government official and the administration should focus on tackling pressing issues like inflation and crime.

Marcos Jnr said on Tuesday the saga would not affect his professional relationship with Sara Duterte and his wife “cannot be blamed” for getting upset about attempts to malign him.

“I think that she (Sara), as a wife, understands how the first lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” the president told reporters.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr attending an event in Manila on January 25. Photo: Kyodo