Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte along with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Congressman Ramon Romulo led the launching of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and School Mental Health Program held at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday again refused to comment on the developments in the West Philippine Sea, even after drawing flak for not speaking up on such an important national matter. 

“No comment. I think comprehensive na iyong statement ni (Davao City Rep.) Paolo Duterte about me and the West Philippine Sea,” Duterte told reporters in Pasig City.

RELATED: 'It is not VP's job to demonize China,' says Paolo Duterte 

Duterte was referring to her brother’s statement that questions related to the West Philippine Sea “should be directed to the chief architect of foreign policy (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr), the Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs."

Rep. Duterte also said that it was not part of his sister's job as vice president and as education secretary "to demonize China, or any country for that matter."

Vice President Duterte also refused to give her opinion on joint maritime drills that the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the United State conducted in the West Philippine Sea.

 The exercise, announced Saturday and held Sunday, is seen to strengthen the ties of the four countries amid China’s increasing aggression in the contested waters.

 “I think that question can be answered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of the Department of National Defense,” she said.

VP Duterte's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, developed warm ties with China during his administration.

Under the Duterte administration's "independent foreign policy", the Philippines looked to non-traditional allies like China and Russia and cooled relations with the West.

RELATED: Senate probe sought into 'treasonous' Duterte-China 'gentleman's agreement' 

Activist organization Akbayan recently challenged the Vice President to speak up and make known her stance on the West Philippine Sea issue, instead of voicing her support for Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

The pastor is facing a string of accusations of rape, child abuse and human trafficking in Phillipine and US courts.

Quiboloy has maintained his innocence and has said that he would surrender if authorities will guarantee he will not be extradited to the US.

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