VP won’t support efforts to overthrow President Marcos

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June 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte will not support efforts to overthrow President Marcos, amid rumors of alleged destabilization plots against the administration.

“I am the constitutional successor; I am the next in line according to our Constitution. And I took an oath when I assumed the Office of the Vice President and stated there that I will preserve and defend the Constitution,” Duterte said in Davao City yesterday.

Malacañang has dismissed fresh rumors of a destabilization plot targeting the government on Independence Day, even as it warned the public against “forces of darkness” seeking to sow chaos in the country.

“So, it is not in my hands to implement extra-constitutional means to overthrow the current administration. And I don’t like that either. I don’t want to take over Bongbong Marcos’ position. I want people to see until the end how shameless BBM is,” Duterte added.

Reacting to a social media post by journalist Ramon Tulfo, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there was no confirmation of an alleged plan by supporters of the Vice President to “attack” Malacañang on June 12.

Tulfo alleged that the Philippine National Police had received intelligence reports of a planned attack on the Palace to be led by “a religious sect.”

Castro, meanwhile, said the Vice President has always wanted to oust Marcos and take over the presidency, accusing her allies of being behind destabilization plots.

She yesterday urged Duterte to be “real” and not be a hypocrite.

“She has always wanted to oust the President from office, and she said this in a speech in the Netherlands on July 19, 2025, that ‘we all want to oust BBM from office,’” Castro said in a Viber message to reporters.

“She can’t deny she said it. Don’t be ‘plastic’ and a hypocrite,” she added.

‘Like a syndicate’

Duterte, during the 128th Independence Day celebration in Davao City, said the country loses its freedom and sovereignty when government officials act like a syndicate in stealing the people’s money.

“Our freedom, our sovereignty is not only lost to foreign invaders. We don’t only lose it from foreign invaders. We also lose it when the high officials of our government, including the President, is like a syndicate in stealing the people’s money. Every peso that is stolen is a loss of dignity for everyone,” Duterte said.

She added that sovereignty is lost every time public service becomes a private business.

“Every peso stolen from the people’s treasury steals a child’s freedom from hunger. It steals a student’s freedom from illiteracy or substandard education. It steals a patient’s freedom to obtain quality health care. It steals a worker’s freedom to earn a decent living. Every ghost project is a classroom never built. Every corrupt contract is a road that was never built for farmers to bring their produce to the market,” Duterte said.

The Vice President faces impeachment, amid allegations of corruption as senators have agreed to start the trial on July 6, after the pretrial and summons have been complied with. — Helen Flores