Sara says she's ready to assume presidency

Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to perform the job as president in case President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. needs to be replaced.

The vice president said this amid the issue of corruption and alleged reports of destabilization in the government.

"There is no question about my readiness. I presented myself to you when I was a candidate for vice president with the understanding that I am the first in line in succession," she said in an ambush interview in Davao City on Tuesday.

"Wala nang tanong dun kung ano ang gagawin ko. Yun ang mandate sa akin ng Constitution, at alam ko yun noong ako ay tumakbo at binoto niyo ako as Vice President knowing that I am the first in line (There’s no question about what I’m supposed to do. That is the mandate given to me by the Constitution, and I already knew that when I ran and when you elected me as Vice President, knowing that I am the first in line),” she added.

She also said that she took an oath as the second-highest leader of the country, and she must defend and preserve this at all costs.

“I said in my oath to preserve and defend the Constitution...Any extra-constitutional movements or actions are beyond my sphere. So kung gusto nila na gumalaw sila na labas sa constitution, nasa kanila yun (So if they want to act outside the Constitution, that’s on them),” Duterte said.

Just recently, Malacañang said that resignation from the presidency is just an option for President Marcos, after his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, accused him of drug use.

Duterte also urged Marcos to undergo a drug test, saying the president cannot refuse the call of the people.

“Hindi ka puwedeng humindi. As president, as vice-president, hindi ka puwede humindi (You cannot refuse. As president, as vice president, you cannot say no)," she said.

"That is a question of your competency. This is a drug test na invested ang public,” she continued.

Meanwhile, Duterte alleged that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez used the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to fund the election campaign of congressmen that he supported.

The Vice President also claimed that some congressmen were bribed to support impeachment charges filed against her.

“So dito makikita natin na ginamit sa pulitika yung AICS, ginamit sa mali yung pera. Sana tignan din nila yung mga iba pang congressional districts ng mga congressman na pumirma sa impeachment (So here we can see that the AICS was used for politics, that the money was used improperly. I hope they also look into the other congressional districts of the congressmen who signed the impeachment),” she said.