MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte penned a long letter again on Wednesday to air her frustration about several things in public service, this time, she gave a thorough roasting to several government agencies without pointing fingers at exact officials.
Duterte issued a new statement following her dismay with how the Marcos administration, her alliance during the May 2022 elections, is running the country.
This statement was released in response to the security support pledged by six Muslim tribes in Davao City weeks after the official slammed Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Marbil in detail regarding the issue of recalling some of her trusted security personnel.
She took a swipe at some “dishonest” and “selfish” government officials, without giving their names, for their lack of better measures to address several issues faced by the country including the creation of a national flood master plan, police to population ratio, and poor healthcare system.
The vice president also called out lawmakers who defended the removal of her police personnel, claiming they failed to grasp the “real cause” of the country’s shortage.
“The country should have representatives who understand that, in order to fully address the shortage, there is a need to leverage available technology and leapfrog into the future where policemen are armed with the best security products that do not require their physical presence all the time,” she said.
Duterte criticized these officials for submitting to the International Criminal Court, an institution that is set to investigate her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and several of his well-known allies over the controversial war on drugs campaign of his administration.
“Ang Pilipinas ay pinamumunuan dapat ng mga taong may malasakit at kakayanan para itaguyod ang malinis na pamahalaan at pag-unlad ng bayan. Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay pinamumunuan ng mga taong walang katapatan sa trabahong sinumpaan,” Duterte said in a post published in her personal Facebook page.
The only thing prevailing among the Filipinos as a result of these problems is “fear for the future,” she said.
She also hit the government and lawmakers for not strengthening the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and “diverting funds for purposes unrelated to human health,” saying that instead of passing modern laws, the Philippines currently has representatives who are more focused on meddling in the issues of others.
Duterte likewise rebuked airport officials, saying that they should be dedicated to creating a world-class facility that prioritizes the security and privacy of all passengers instead of being silent about security threats.
The Vice President was seen departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 with her husband, children, and mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, on a trip to Germany during a typhoon that was affecting the country.
She faced backlash online for prioritizing her personal trip over community welfare, but she insisted that her office remain in contact to coordinate relief efforts for the typhoon victims.
It remains unclear whether this context influenced Duterte’s complaints about airport security. She alleged that airport officials have been silent regarding security threats and have not conducted thorough investigations when issues arise, including the public release of video footage, flight details, and other sensitive information about passengers, including minors.
“Pagod na pagod na tayong makita ang bayan na napag-iiwanan, tinatrato na parang walang halaga, hindi kaaya-aya, at sunod-sunuran sa ibang lahi,” she said.
With all the rants and outbursts, the Vice President said Filipinos deserve better, including her.
“We, Filipinos, deserve more than what we are hearing and seeing from the government right now. We, Filipinos, deserve better,” she said.
