Bato defends meltdown; Chiz slams VP behavior

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa defended Vice President Sara Duterte from backlash due to her outburst at President Marcos and his family, saying she was only "human" and was forced to a meltdown because of political persecution.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Dela Rosa was defending Duterte, who, in blocking the transfer of her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez from the House of Representatives' detention facility to the Correctional Institute for Women, went nuclear in an online press briefing accusing the Marcoses of being behind the House investigation on alleged anomalies in the Office of the Vice President.

"If you were in her situation, can you stomach the persecution against her? Is it unbecoming, if her reaction was merely natural, as a human being who is angry and hurt?” Dela Rosa said in Filipino yesterday during an interview with dwIZ.

For his part, Senate President Francis Escudero – who is friends with First Lady Liza Marcos – called Duterte‘s behavior “unbecoming” for an official of her stature.

“Recent statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte are deeply concerning as they are inappropriate for an official occupying the second highest office of the land. She should keep in mind that as a public official, she has a duty to set an example for the personnel in the Office of the Vice President and our fellow Filipinos, especially our children,” Escudero said.

Asked if Duterte should have controlled her emotions as the country’s second highest official, Dela Rosa said the Vice President only showed her human side in her publicized meltdown early Sunday.

“It is up to the people how they perceive a person’s anger. But I guarantee you, Inday Sara is a genuine person, not plastic, who has emotions also,” he added.