President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte join the Department of Public Works and Highways in unveiling a road development project during the inauguration of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project (Segment A) in Davao City on July 1, 2023. Alfred Frias, PNA/file

VIENTIANE (UPDATED) — President Marcos Jr. on Friday said he is “a little dismayed” to hear that Vice President Sara Duterte does not consider him as a friend.

Marcos Jr. gave the statement when he was asked about his second-in-commands recent comment about their ties.

Sara Duterte says 'never again' teaming up with Marcoses

“I don't know anymore. I’m not quite sure I understand,” Marcos Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

“I’m a little dismayed to hear that she does not think we are friends,” he said.

“I always thought that we were but maybe I was deceived.”

Sara Duterte quits Marcos Cabinet

Duterte resigned from Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet this year without stating a reason in her resignation letter.

The Vice President later told reporters that among the reason why she bolted out of the administration was the alleged meddling of some lawmakers in the Department of Education’s budget.

‘UNFAIR TO ASSIGN AS PH CARETAKER' 

Marcos Jr. on Friday also said it would be “unfair” to assign Duterte as the Philippines’ caretaker whenever he is out of the country as she is “not part of the administration anymore.”

Before leaving for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Lao earlier this week, the President named Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III as custodians.

“She’s not part of the administration anymore. She’s still in government but she left the administration,” the President told reporters when asked why, for the first time, his second-in-command is not temporarily in charge of the government.

“She’s not part of the day-to-day running of what we are doing so it would be unfair to ask her to now, to impose that duty on her since that’s not part of her work now,” he said.

Marcos Jr. described his decision in choosing the Philippines’ custodian during his 4-day trip as “a very practical.”

“If you notice the membership of the executive committee are all part of --- now they’re all members of the Cabinet up to now,” he said.

“That would seem to be the obvious way to handle it,” he added.

'NEVER AGAIN'

Duterte in September said she would "never again" team up with the Marcoses following their falling out.

In an ambush interview at the House of Representatives, Duterte was asked if she would ever consider joining forces with the Marcoses in future elections.

"Never again," she said.

She also thumbed down a possible mending of ties with between President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., adding they were not friends to begin with.

“Hindi kami magkaibigan unang-una. Nagkakilala lang kami dahil mag-running mate kami. So, bago pa man kami naging running mate, hindi na kami nag-uusap. Nagkausap lang kami during campaign at saka sa trabaho noon,” the Vice President said.

“Ang kaibigan ko talaga si Senator Imee Marcos, kilala niya ako since 2012,” she added.

While not directly implicating Marcos Jr., Duterte has accused his allies in the House of mounting a "political attack" meant to derail her possible 2028 presidential bid.