SINGAPORE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conveyed his warm wishes to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte as she celebrated her 46th birthday on Friday.
The Chief Executive greeted VP Duterte in a Facebook post while he is still here in Singapore for his keynote address at the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III serves as the country's caretaker while the President is on a working visit.
In the social media post, the President praised Vice President Duterte's dedication and passion for the nation and highlighted her hard work as an inspiration to the youth and educators across the country.
"Happy Birthday, Inday Sara! Your hard work and love for our country inspire our youth and teachers," Marcos wrote on Facebook.
"Let's continue this for a strong education under the New Philippines," Marcos added.
Marcos' greetings came amid the Vice President's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, accused the government was "stifling peaceful dissent" by prohibiting the Maisug protest in Tacloban City on 25 May. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez refuted the charges, saying they had to cancel the event due to Typhoon Aghon.
After the Vice President's father also called Marcos "bangag" or high on drugs, First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos acknowledged disliking the Vice President.
The First Lady said she was offended when the Vice President laughed over the former President's remark during a late January Davao City rally opposing the 1987 Constitution amendment.
Marcos maintained that Duterte should not be replaced in his Cabinet, despite his wife's disapproval.
Marcos' Election 2022 running mate was Duterte.