Photo credit: Inday Sara Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte has issued one of her strongest statements yet, saying she fully understands the public’s anger over alleged corruption, manipulation, and the government’s failure to address long-standing problems of transparency and accountability.

In her message, Duterte said she has spent months listening to overseas Filipinos who have repeatedly raised concerns about honesty in government, peace, and national security — long before the flood-control controversy erupted.

She said the public’s outrage is justified, especially after witnessing how the House of Representatives allegedly manipulated the Department of Education’s budget, turning funds meant for classroom shortages into what she described as “pork barrel” for allies of powerful politicians.

Instead of joining what she called a deception of the public, Duterte said she chose to resign as DepEd secretary. She claimed she endured political attacks — including impeachment moves — because certain lawmakers wanted to cover up corruption in the 2025 national budget.

Duterte said the President now faces a “crisis of confidence” over the way corruption investigations are being handled, saying the probes appear to lack both direction and genuine intent.

She also called for answers on how a national budget that “deprived Filipinos of billions and billions of pesos” was approved under the President’s leadership.

Standing with what she described as “millions of Filipinos disgusted by a government drowning in insecurity and greed,” Duterte emphasized that the people’s right to speak is the core of democracy.

“That right must be heard,” she said. “Not ignored. Not dismissed. We Filipinos deserve better.”