VP Sara criticizes gov't: Filipinos deserve better

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday hit the Philippine government, including the House of Representatives, for its supposed lack of action to address issues in health, security, infrastructure, and foreign interference.

In a lengthy statement addressed to the Muslim community, Duterte said the country was being led by officials who are disloyal to their sworn duty.

"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. Kaya ang tanging nananaig sa atin ay takot para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak," she said.

(The Philippines should be led by people who care and have the ability to promote clean government and the development of the country. However, the Philippines today is governed by those who have no loyalty to their sworn duty. We are now being overcome by fear for the future of our children.)

The Vice President took a swipe at the government specifically for the supposed lack of infrastructure to prevent disasters, as well as a healthcare system that will truly take care of the health of the people and relieve them of medical expenses.

Even airport officials, she said, should strive to achieve a world-class facility that values the security and privacy of all passengers, especially the younger ones.

"Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay may mga opisyal ng paliparan na tikom-bibig ukol sa banta ng seguridad, at hindi man lang nagsasagawa ng masusing imbestigasyon tuwing may banta tulad ng pagpapasapubliko ng video footage, flight details at iba pang maseselang impormasyon ng mga pasahero, kahit pa ng mga menor de edad," Duterte said.

(But the Philippines today has airport officials who are tight-lipped about security threats, and do not even conduct a thorough investigation about these, such as releasing of video footage, flight details, and other sensitive information of passengers, even of minors.)

During the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon two weeks ago, Duterte was photographed at the airport, bound to leave the country for a personal trip with her family overseas.

The Office of the Vice President earlier said the timing of Duterte's departure was "unfortunate."

Police security

Meanwhile, Duterte also said House members should understand that the ideal police-to-population ratio could not be reached "due to the annually ballooning population and lack of budgetary resources to hire more personnel."

"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.

"Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay may representante na imbes na magpasa ng makabagong batas, ay nagpupumilit sumasawsaw sa isyu ng iba," she added, without mentioning names.

(But the Philippines now has representatives who, instead of passing a modernization law, insist on meddling in other people’s issues.)

The Vice President earlier slammed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil following the relief of some of the PNP Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) personnel assigned for her security, calling the move a "clear case of political harassment."

Marbil has issued a directive to rationalize the deployment of the PSPG personnel, prioritizing individuals identified with high-security threats. This is to achieve an ideal police-to-population ratio of 1:500.

International Criminal Court

Duterte also reiterated a firm stance against allowing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the war on drugs of her father's administration.

"Ang Pilipinas, bilang isang malayang bansa, ay tumitindig dapat laban sa mga panghihimasok ng mga dayuhan sa ating mga domestic affairs. Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay dali-daling yuyuko at susunod na lamang sa anumang kagustuhan at pangingialam ng mga banyaga tulad nalang ng ICC," she said.

(The Philippines, as a free country, must stand up against foreign interference in our domestic affairs. However, the Philippines today just quickly bows down and follows everything the foreigners want, like in the ICC.)

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra last Tuesday said the Philippines cannot stop the ICC prosecutor from interviewing persons of interest in its investigation on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the Philippine government received a request from the ICC to help it in interviewing "five persons." He said, however, that the Philippines was "not in the business" of informing people that the ICC would talk to them, and that the government "just note such requests."

Amid all these, Duterte said that the Filipinos deserve better from the government.

"[S]a sipag at galing ng Pilipino, nangunguna dapat ang Pilipinas sa ating mga karatig bansa. Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay patuloy na nagugutom, naghihirap, at lumulubog nang dahil sa mga mapanlinlang para maupo sa puwesto," she said.

(With the hard work and talent of Filipinos, the Philippines should be leading among our neighboring countries. However, Filipinos today continue to starve and suffer due to mischievous people who want to sit in office.)

"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 (We are so tired of seeing Filipinos being left behind, treated as worthless, unpleasant, and bow to the wishes of foreigners). We, Filipinos, deserve more than what we are hearing and seeing from the government right now. We, Filipinos, deserve better. We, Filipinos, should be the best," she added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Malacañang and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines regarding Duterte's remarks. — VDV, GMA Integrated News