VP Sara Duterte on school violence: It's due to weak leadership, same with the nation

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday (The Hague time) said the recent events of school violence are a reflection of weak leadership, same with what is happening to the nation.

"Ganyan kasi ang nangyayari, hindi lang sa kabataan, kundi sa lahat ng tao, ganyan ang nangyayari kapag wala kasi nakikita na leadership, nag kanya-kanya ‘yung mga tao," Duterte said in an interview outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands after she visited her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained at the ICC.

"Kung makikita ninyo sa mga empleyado ng gobyerno ngayon, ganoon din ‘yung mentality nila. Nagkakanya-kanya sila. Kasi nawawala ‘yung moral ascendancy ng pinakataas, ‘yung mga nasa taas. 'Pag sinabi natin nasa taas, ‘yung ating President, ‘yung ating mga cabinet secretaries at iba pang nagtatrabaho sa Office of the President. Kapag ganyan ‘yung nakikita ng mga tao, nawawala ‘yung respeto. Kapag nawawala ‘yung respeto, nagkakanya-kanya lahat ng tao. That is a manifestation of a weak leadership," she added.

Duterte was also asked for her thoughts about Pax Silica, a US-led initiative and economic security framework that hopes to create a global supply chain for AI and the semiconductor industry. The Philippines is among 24 country signatories in this agreement. As part of the Pax Silica effort, an AI-focused industrial hub spanning 1,600 hectares is being eyed in New Clark City in Tarlac.

"I cannot comment on that," she said.

'I CANNOT COMMENT ON THAT'

Ito ang naging tugon ni Vice President Sara Duterte nang hingan ng komento ukol sa planong pagtatayo ng A.I. hub sa bansa sa ilalim ng Pax Silica initiative.

Video courtesy: Office of the Vice President

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Rodrigo Duterte

Regarding her father Rodrigo, the vice president said he was happy and in a good mood.

"Very good. Very... Happy ang mood ni President Duterte. And binanggit ko sa kanya na bago ako pumasok kanina, merong mga Filipinos na — saan na sila? Yes. Merong mga Filipinos kanina na nag-aantay sa labas at
nagpapaabot ng kanilang pangungumusta sa kanya. Sabi niya na itigil na daw siya sa pagsasabi na huwag kayo gumastos, huwag ninyo inconvenience ‘yung sarili ninyo sa pagpunta dito. Sabi niya gawin n'yo na lang daw kung ano ‘yung nasa puso ninyo," she said.

Duterte also said her father is comfortable with the warm weather now in Europe.

"Mas gusto niya ang mainit kaysa sa malamig. Hindi siya maka-tolerate ng sobrang lamig," she said.

On social media posts circulating that she said in London that Rodrigo will e released from the ICC next week, VP Sara said she never said anything like that.

"Wala akong sinabi doon sa speech ko na lalabas si PRRD next week. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagsimula ‘yung gano'n pero definitely wala doon sa transcript na nagsabi ako na lalabas na si PRRD sa ICC or lalabas na si
PRRD next week," Duterte said.

"Dahil alam naman natin lahat at nakikita natin sa ICC website ‘yung schedule ng kanyang kaso at kung makikita natin na walang schedule ng hearing ng release. At ang meron lang scheduled ay ‘yung kanya trial proper," she added.

‘WALA AKONG SINABI NA... LALABAS SI [FPRRD] NEXT WEEK'

Ito ang naging paglilinaw ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa kumalat na impormasyon na may kaugnayan sa umano'y paglabas ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa susunod na Linggo mula sa International Criminal Court.

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Duterte then thanked her supporters for their presence and love for country.

"Para na ako sirang plaka ba sa paulit-ulit na pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga kababayan sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Pero pareho pa din ‘yung aking mensahe. Ang aking mensahe is a message of gratitude sa patuloy na suporta. And I can only pray that God will bless you in your personal lives because of your love for your country," she said.

The vice president also said the elder Duterte had a message for their supporters.

"And kanina tinanong pa si President Duterte kung meron pa siyang mensahe para sa inyo dito sa labas, sa Duterte Street. Meron siyang mensahe pero in general kasi ‘yung kanya pinadala na mensahe at sasabihin ko verbatim," she said.

"Sabi niya: 'My best wishes to the men and women and LGBT of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. You are very close to my heart because you offer your lives for the country,'” the vice president said.

"Nag-practice pa ako 'yan doon na para hindi ko makalimutan. 'Yan 'yung verbatim," she added.

Marcoleta

VP Sara said she will visit Senator Rodante Marcoleta when she returns to the country.

"Oh yes, nagbisita ko sa kanya immediately after nu'ng nag-submit siya sa court. And I will speak to him very soon. Pagbalik ko ng Pilipinas. Meron akong mga schedules na pagbisita sa mga politicians and mga individuals
na nagsusuporta ng mga politicians na nasa detention," she said.

Marcoleta is detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after he and his co-accused, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu, were arrested for alleged plunder. —KG, GMA News