Sara Duterte should resign first before calling for Marcos' resignation, says House Deputy Speaker

House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V on Tuesday told Vice President Sara Duterte to resign first before calling for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s resignation. Ortega was responding to Duterte’s comments last weekend following her arraignment in the grave threat case she is facing over her alleged threat to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte had said Marcos should resign because he had allegedly forsaken the voters who elected him by failing to provide sufficient government assistance amid massive flooding. "She is forcing the President to resign. She should do it first to reduce the problems she is facing now," Ortega said in a press conference. He was referring to the impeachment case filed against Duterte, which includes allegations of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over her alleged threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed. "She should do it first because she was the one who thought of it. She must set an example then," Ortega added. He also said the country should not be subjected to the Vice President’s whims, stating, "She cannot order the entire nation around." GMA News Online has reached out to lawyer Paolo Panelo, Duterte's spokesperson, and will update this story once a response is received. Under Article VII, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, if a sitting Philippine president resigns, the Vice President automatically becomes President and serves the unexpired portion of the President's term. — MCG, GMA News