Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - "Game tayo. I will call that neuro-psychiatric exam. Pero, pero let us make this an election issue."

This is the challenge of Vice President Sara Duterte in response to calls from some lawmakers for her to undergo a neuro-psychiatric exam or have her mental health evaluated.

In her latest press conference on Oct. 18, Duterte made strong remarks against Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and her critics.

Now, Duterte said that at any time, and even televised, she is ready to take a neuro-psychiatric test -- as long as she is not the only one who will undergo this.

WRAP: Political discourse feared to hit gutter as Marcos-Duterte rivalry escalates

"Iyong 'Young Guns', I am sure kasi young sila magpapare-elect pa iyan. They are running as re-electionists. So, gagawin natin dalawang tests sa akin. Kasi sinasabi nila unstable ako. Eh paningin ko naman sa kanila eh unstable din sila 'di ba? Kasi bakit? Aatake sila, pag sumagot iyong ina-atake nila, nagagalit sila. Tinatawag nilang unstable. Eh para sa akin unstable din kayo. Bakit niyo ako inaatake, 'di ba?" she told the media in a chance interview at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (PCCI) 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, where she was guest of honor and keynote speaker.

"So we call on the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Psychiatric Society... to set the guidelines para sa amin lahat... Lahat ng botante mag-demand ng drug test sa ating mga congressman candidates kasi unstable din sila... We need independent third party hair follicle testing," she added.

She denied that she is "unstable" and "not of sound mind", among other comments from lawmakers.

"Ang problema kasi ngayon sa mga politiko, they have never seen a politician who has nothing to lose. They have never seen a politician na IDGAF... Desperada? Bakit ako desperada? I am the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines. I am not going anywhere," she said.

"As I said I am nothing of unstable, unbecoming, unsound mind. I am just unforgiving, unyielding, and unbowed," she added.

Senate President Francis Escudero, who recently said that the vice president's tirades against Marcos Jr. were "unbecoming," opted not to respond to Duterte.

"Magkaiba kami ng pananaw kaugnay sa bagay na yan, iwanan na lamang natin siguro dun," he said.

Asked if Duterte's behavior should determine her fitness to be the "spare tire" of government, Escudero said, "Walang probisyon para diyan ang ating Saligang Batas."

"Hindi nagbabangayan ang Pangulo at ikalawang Pangulo. Nagsasalita lamang ang ikalawang Pangulo laban sa Pangulo. At ang Pangulo'y hindi naman sumasagot. Hindi naman nakikipagbangayan ang Pangulo sa kaniya."

"Wala itong epekto sa aking pananaw sa ating ekonomiya, sa estabilidad, seguridad ng ating pamahalaan. Pero kung saka-sakali may epekto, sa kanya mismo, sa kanyang tanggapan," Escudero added.

CHILDREN'S 'NATURAL AFFINITY'

Duterte declined to comment on the statements made by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos and Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, the sons of Pres. Marcos and Sen. Imee Marcos, respectively.

According to Cong. Marcos, he "held" his "tongue out of respect for the Vice President", although "her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified from such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living."

Still, he "sincerely hope[s] that" Duterte is "okay".

READ: 'Mental clarity seems to be eluding' Sara Duterte, says Sandro Marcos

The latter had this to say: "I will not comment sa mga anak kasi ang natural affinity ng mga anak is to defend parents. Ako lang naman iyong anak na hindi nagde-defend kay PRD (former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte). Pero baliktarin natin, ganoon din si PRD sa akin. Natural affinity na gagawin, natural na gagawin ni PRD is to defend me."

Meanwhile, Duterte admitted that she texted Sen. Imee Marcos after the press conference last Friday.

READ: VP Duterte says Marcos 'does not know how to be president'

She did not provide details about the messages, saying that people should ask Imee instead, whom she still considers a "friend".

"She was cold, malamig. And then meron siyang sinabihan na common friend namin, na naiinis siya sa akin at kay BBM (Pres. Bongbong Marcos). And then sinabihan ko iyong common friend namin, 'Sabihin mo sa kanya, huwag siya mainis sa akin at kay BBM. Mainis siya kay Liza at kay Martin,'" Duterte said.

When Pres. Marcos was asked about Duterte's tirades against him and his family, he simply smiled and walked away.

READ: Marcos Jr. skirts questions on Sara Duterte's comments on his leadership

Meanwhile, the so-called Young Guns at the House of Representatives accepted on Tuesday Duterte’s challenge to undergo tests for illegal drug substances and psychiatric evaluation, with one condition: for Duterte to testify under oath before the House panel investigating the alleged misuse of public funds within the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her stint as DepEd chief.

They previously called Duterte’s recent tirades against the President a “diversionary tactic” from the irregularities seen by congressmen regarding her 2022 and 2023 confidential expenses.

“Wala naman pong problema kung mag-undergo kami ng drug test o neuropsychological test. Ako nga po, hindi ako umiinom. Anytime po 'yan. Ang challenge po is she has to testify under oath, answer the questions specifically from the Committee on Good Government,” House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Representative Francisco Paolo Ortega V said.

“We are more than willing to take the drug test and psychiatric exam, as the Vice President suggested, but we will not allow her to divert the real issue, which is the allegations of fund misuse and graft and corruption against her. We believe that transparency should go both ways. If she wants to challenge us, she should be ready to face the House Blue Ribbon Committee and testify under oath. This isn’t just about clearing our names from baseless accusations—it’s about accountability, which every public official must uphold,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun added.

“We’re ready for these tests. Let’s schedule it within the next few days. But more than that, we challenge the Vice President to step forward and answer the people’s questions about her office’s budget use. The real test of leadership is accountability, and we hope she’s ready for that,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also said.

READ: House lawmakers want answers from VP Duterte on confidential funds use, other issues

House Assistant Majority Leader and AKO Bicol Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon noted that “the Vice President’s appearance before the Blue Ribbon Committee was essential for transparency and good governance, a cornerstone of their call to action.”

House Deputy Majority Leader and PBA Party List Rep. Margarita Nograles and Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario vowed to undergo the tests. -- with reports from Victoria Tulad and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

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