VP Sara Duterte: 'Hindi ako magpapatawad'

As Vice President Sara Duterte talked about the "spirit of Christmas" during a Thanksgiving party, she herself said that she is not a forgiving person.

"Ang Pasko ay panahon ng pagpapatawad, pagmamahal, at pagbibigay. Forgiving, giving, and loving. Lagi ko pong sinasabi na depende 'yan sa tao pero dahil ako ay vice president, kailangan ko sabihin na yan ang mensahe at diwa ng Pasko. Pero kung ako, hindi ako magpapatawad," Duterte said at a thanksgiving activity of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday.

(Christmas is the season of forgiving, giving, and loving. However, I've always emphasized that it is a case-to-case basis. For me, I won't forgive.)

"Iba-iba ang tao, diba? Mayroon sa atin mabilis magpatawad, mayroong matagal at mayroon sa atin na dinadapa sa hukay ang galit," she added.

(It's up to the person to forgive. Some easily offer forgiveness, others don't.)

In the same speech, Duterte also reminded voters to wisely choose the country’s next leaders in the upcoming elections and refrain from “automatically” voting for members of a political family.

“Hindi dahil galing sa pamilya ng politiko ay automatic ang boto ninyo…Kelangan suriin ninyo ng mabuti kung mayroon ba syang kakayahanan bukod sa kaniyang apelido,” she said. 

(Not because they came from political families then they should be voted automatically. You need to evaluate them based on their qualifications.)

Duterte also said candidates should be assessed based on qualifications not because of the cash aid or "ayuda" that they got from elected officials.

“Hindi niyo utang na loob sa kanila ang ayuda,” she added.

(You do not owe them for the cash subsidies.) 

Feud

Duterte's statement comes amid her ongoing feud with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. after she said that had ordered a hit against the First Couple and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should "something" happen to her. 

Duterte is also now facing an impeachment complaint filed by advocacy groups on the grounds of alleged corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. It was endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña on Monday.

The Makabayan bloc is likewise poised to endorse the second complaint against her anchored on the fund utilization of the OVP and the Department of Education, as well as Duterte’s alleged “disrespect” for the House of Representatives during legislative hearings. 

Representatives Geraldine Roman and Jude Acidre said the lower chamber will process the impeachment complaint against Duterte as it is part of their constitutional mandate. 

Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the  Office of the President has nothing to do with the impeachment complaint.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News