IF there’s any delicadeza left in her, prudence dictates that Vice President Sara Duterte should resign from the Cabinet after participating in rallies hurling seditious attacks against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

This was the shared view of Mayors Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City and Albee Benitez of Bacolod City, and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, as they joined mounting calls for the Vice President to resign as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

They all sympathized with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who recently expressed her displeasure at the Vice President for attending a rally in Davao City in January.

During the event, she was seen laughing as her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called President Marcos a drug addict. At the same rally, her brother, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, called for the President’s resignation.

The Vice President also made an appearance at a rally in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila in March, where supporters of former President Duterte and doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy launched vicious attacks against President Marcos and his administration.

Her attendance in anti-government rallies has raised serious doubts about her commitment to the administration and the sacred principle of delicadeza.

Treñas emphasized the importance of unwavering support for President Marcos, suggesting that any Cabinet member unable to offer such support should consider stepping down.

“If a Cabinet secretary cannot give full support to the President who appointed him or her, the best and only option available is to resign,” Treñas said.

He continued, “If you are appointed secretary, you give your full loyalty to your President. You do not attend rallies where your President is attacked. Simple delicadeza dictates that you do not do that. If you cannot refrain from doing that, the best option is to resign.”

Interviewed by broadcaster Anthony Taberna on his Facebook page, the First Lady did not mince words in admitting being hurt when the Vice President even laughed after President Marcos was called “bangag” during the rally organized by Duterte supporters.

“I mean, for me, nasaktan ako because my husband will do everything to protect you,” the First Lady said, referring to the Vice President.

“You ran together, di ba? Sama-sama tayo babangon muli. Pupunta ka sa rally, tatawagin ‘yung Presidente mong bangag, ‘di ba? Tama ba ‘yan? Even (former vice president) Leni (Robredo) never did that,” the First Lady was quoted as saying.

In a joint statement, Treñas and Benitez said they “empathize” with the First Lady who has roots in Iloilo, Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

“It seems inappropriate for a Vice President, who campaigned under the same party banner as the President, to participate in such events and react with amusement to the attacks,” the mayors said.

“Moreover, as the Secretary of Education, she is a key member of the President’s cabinet. A certain level of solidarity is expected. Some unspoken rules and lines should not be crossed,” they stressed.

In a separate statement, Chua asserted that the Vice President should step down from her role as Education Secretary, emphasizing the importance of accountability and decency.

“She cannot have the best of both worlds by being a fence sitter while her family and their allies challenge the authority and mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while having little to show for in terms of substantive results at the [DepEd], where she is Secretary,” Chua pointed out.

Chua criticized Duterte for maintaining a passive stance amidst a barrage of verbal attacks on the President by her family, accusing her of enjoying the privileges of her office while remaining inactive.

“Her family unleashed a barrage of insults and attacks directly to the President, and yet she does nothing and is still enjoying the perks of being part of the official family,” he said.

“She should draw the line instead of pretending to be a full partner of the President,” Chua pointed out.

The legislator likewise underscored Duterte’s silence regarding Chinese territorial encroachments in the West Philippine Sea.