(UPDATES) THE Liberal Party (LP) rebuffed a declaration by former presidential spokesman Harry Roque that Vice President Sara Duterte can be a leader of the opposition, after she resigned from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a statement on Thursday, the LP said it "strongly opposed" Roque's remarks and said the true opposition is founded on "accountability, transparency, and genuine care for the people," qualities that the party does not see in the vice president.

Roque said that with the dissolution of the UniTeam, Duterte has become the leader of the opposition.

The UniTeam paired Marcos with Duterte during the 2022 presidential elections.

"In her resignation, there was neither an acceptance of responsibility, nor was there any change in principles and convictions. How can someone be leading the opposition when they are yet to be held accountable and needing to answer to the people?" the LP said.

It said it knew all along that the UniTeam was for show.

"What happened on Wednesday was an admission of what we already know for a long time, that the 'unity' of the 'UniTeam' was only a façade during the elections so they can gain the support of voters, and now it's clear that there is now a turning point underway," the party said.

It said the opposition "prioritizes the people; not expanding and maintaining power, not defending a wanted religious leader or condoning the killing of thousands of Filipinos, and certainly, not turning a blind eye to the oppression of our fishermen and the encroachment on our territory by foreigners."

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Roque, who was once the spokesman of the vice president's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, said he hopes that Sara accepts the challenge to become an opposition leader in the Marcos administration.

He listed six reasons why the vice president is qualified to lead the opposition.

The first reason is that Duterte has the mandate of being the country's second highest elected leader. She also has the capabilities of a lawyer and a leader of the executive branch.

Duterte stands firm on issues against the Marcos administration and has the "highest net satisfaction and approval ratings" among government officials, he said.

"She proved in her resignation that she is not an opportunist and that it's not in her desire to remain in office," Roque said.

Finally, he said the vice president will not only fight for the interests of those in Mindanao but all Filipinos.

"I hope she accepts the challenge of time," Roque said.

Another Facebook post from Roque showed what the vice president accomplished as Education secretary, including the Matatag curriculum, Catch-Up Friday, and overtime pay for all teachers.

On Wednesday, Duterte resigned as Education secretary and as vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

'Ideological'

In a statement on Thursday, LP President and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the LP remained as the "ideological and conscientious" opposition.

"Vice President Sara Duterte may assume the leadership of the partisan opposition to the Marcos Jr. administration, but the Liberal Party remains the ideological and conscientious opposition to both the current administration and Duterte's breakaway power bloc," Lagman said.

In a press conference on Thursday, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel said he wanted to know if Duterte was in favor of abolishing the Elcac task force or the phasing out of traditional jeepneys.

If her stand on the two issues concurs with the stand of the administration, Duterte does not belong to the opposition, Manuel said.

Another former Duterte spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said the resignation of the vice president is a huge loss to the Marcos administration.

Panelo said Sara is one of the six Cabinet members "who have salvaged the dismal performance of the other department secretaries that has contributed immensely to the creeping discontent among the citizenry and dragged [President Marcos] to a low popular and trust rating."

He said Duterte's departure from the Cabinet "was forthcoming given the hostile environment the vice president found herself in — created by the allies of [the President] who were in a hurry to diminish and dislodge her enviable leading spot in the 2028 presidential race."

The demolition job on Duterte began with the ouster of her strong political ally, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as senior deputy speaker and later as deputy speaker, Panelo said.

"This was followed by the almost unanimous approval of the removal of her confidential funds coming from the Office of the President," he said.

The failure of the President to defend Duterte "on this issue added to her discomfort. The first lady's public disclosure of her displeasure on a perceived but misplaced slight reinforced the suffocating atmosphere," Panelo said.

Sara Duterte's resignation "will forge new alliances and dissolve old ones," he added.

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