Baste Duterte: Marcos’ words ‘not worth listening to’

Davao City Vice Mayor and acting mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has dismissed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent statement that he has nothing to do with Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.

Speaking during the celebration of the Kadayawan Festival on Friday, Baste Duterte said he had no interest in paying attention to the President’s remarks.

“I don’t really think it matters what he says, because nothing that comes out of his mouth is worth listening to,” he said.

During a press conference in India on Friday, Marcos denied any involvement in the impeachment process, saying, “The situation does not involve me.”

The Senate agreed on Wednesday to archive the articles of impeachment with a vote of 19-4-1. The majority voted “yes,” with only Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto, and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino voting “no.” Senator Ping Lacson abstained.

Vice Mayor Duterte reiterated his position on the matter, calling it “purely political,” and stressed that the Supreme Court’s decision should be considered final.

“Di ko lang maintindihan bakit di nila binibigyang respeto talaga yung en banc decision ng Supreme Court (I just don’t understand why they are not respecting the en banc decision of the Supreme Court),” he said.“It’s an objective view of the situation because they are to interpret the law.”

He also described politicians who opposed the ruling as “very subjective” and accused them of devising acts against his sister, VP Sara Duterte.

“I’m going to say what I’ve said before from the beginning. It’s a political scheme. It’s a mere campaign against the Vice President,” he said.

Asked for his reaction to opposition lawmakers in the House who continue to condemn the Senate decision, Duterte replied,

“It’s okay. It’s democracy. They can say whatever they want. If you don’t have the numbers, you can’t have the cake.”

On another topic about his family, Duterte shared that he would travel again to visit his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands. He said his father is doing fine but has grown thin and has lost his appetite.

“You know, like any other people that would be in detention, you would be depressed, and you would have trouble eating. You would lose your appetite. That’s what I can see, but cognitively, he’s okay,” he said in Bisaya.“But he’s not young anymore, he’s old. His body is okay but already thin," he added.

Duterte emphasized that such changes are normal for people deprived of liberty and justice, as he claims is the case with his father.

“If you are in another country with family and friends, you can eat well. But like any other ordinary person in a detention center without a clear case against you and without due process, how would you feel? That’s what happens to people. What they are doing to him is very unjust.”