MANILA -- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stood by his statements that Vice President Sara Duterte’s comments on the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.  are “shocking” and “disturbing”.

Remulla also reiterated that the DOJ is conducting a study on the legal consequences of the statements of the Vice President who said that she would exhume the remains of Marcos, Sr. and throw them into the West Philippine Sea.

READ: DOJ studying legal consequences of Duterte's statement on Marcos Sr.'s remains

“Ang sabi ko nga kahapon very shocking and disturbing to, we are studying nga the possibility of filing cases based on criminal acts, but the most important part about this is probably how shockingly disturbing such statements coming from somebody who has held the position of secretary of education. How can you we entrust our youth to such a person?” Remulla said.

“We just leave at that, I think we all know the story on what kind of Vice President we have, how seemingly unstable her mind can be and this country does not deserve a future with a kind of person like this,” Remulla added.

Remulla also refused to accept the justification made by Duterte’s camp that her statements should not be taken literally.

“There is no such thing as symbolism when the Filipino people is to ask with what you say,” Remulla said.

Remulla said he is not offended by the tirades of the Vice President on his knowledge of the law.

“I am used to that, ad hominem and other means to react,” Remulla said.

READ: Marcos Jr. smiles, walks away when asked to comment on Sara Duterte's latest tirades against his governance

In a separate interview, Duterte pushed back and criticized Remulla for his alleged ignorance of the law. 

"Ipagdasal natin ang Pilipinas dahil we have a Secretary of Justice na hindi alam ang batas. There is a big difference between talking about the desecration of a body and actually desecrating a body," she told reporters Tuesday.

"Talking about desecration of a body is not desecration of the dead. Dapat sana siguro as a lawyer, maintindihan niya 'yun kaagad, but apparently sabi nga ng iba, kapag mabilis ka, mayroon talagang mabagal ang pick up," Duterte added.

Duterte earlier said she once warned Sen. Imee Marcos that she would personally exhume the remains of the lawmaker's father, former president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., and throw it to the West Philippine Sea "if they don't stop" the supposed political attacks.

Duterte's father former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 allowed the burial of late dictator Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, a decision that sparked protests across the country. 

VP Sara recalls warning Imee: 'I will exhume Marcos Sr.'s body, throw it to the West PH Sea'

Late dictator Marcos buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani