By JEN BAYLON

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez called on Vice President Sara Duterte to resign from her position as a cabinet secretary, after she was reportedly seen laughing during a rally in January of this year, as former President Rodrigo Duterte called President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. a drug addict.

“Adhering to the principle of delicadeza, it may be wise for [Vice President Duterte] to consider stepping down to preserve the integrity and unity of the administration,” Benitez said in a statement.

He added that all cabinet members must uphold the utmost support and unity.

In a joint statement, Benitez and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said they expressed empathy towards First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, who felt hurt by Sara’s apparent laughter at the rally in Davao City.

The mayors said it appeared inappropriate for Sara to attend rallies where President Marcos is being criticized, and “to participate in such events and react with amusement to the attacks.”

“As the Secretary of Education, she is a key member of the President’s cabinet. A certain level of solidarity is expected. There are unspoken rules and lines that should not be crossed,” they added.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson acknowledged that the First Lady’s reaction might have been a normal one, considering her role as a loving wife.

“That’s a normal reaction. But again, that is very personal, and I wish not to comment any further,” Lacson said./JB, WDJ