PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signaled openness to reconciliation with Vice President Sara Duterte, despite recent public clashes between the two.
In an ambush interview, Marcos told reporters, “Never say never,” when asked to comment on Duterte’s statement that their feud has reached a point of no return.
Duterte had earlier told a press briefing, “I believe we reached the point of no return and it is clear that they are really going after me.”
The rift between Marcos and Duterte, who were running mates in the 2022 elections, emerged after the House of Representatives began investigating Duterte’s use of confidential and intelligence funds. The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating alleged questionable budget use by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte previously led.
Over the weekend, Duterte made a startling statement during an online press briefing, claiming she had hired someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if an assassination plot against her were to succeed.
This statement prompted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to launch an investigation into Duterte’s claims.
