Vice President Sara Duterte delivered a sharp critique of government corruption during the nation’s 128th Independence Day celebrations here, framing systemic graft as an internal threat that jeopardizes national sovereignty.
The Vice President, who is currently facing potential impeachment proceedings over allegations of public fund mismanagement, argued that national freedom is compromised whenever public officials prioritize personal gain over their duties.
“We fought for our sovereignty against foreign invaders. But sovereignty is not lost only to those who come from foreign shores,” Duterte stated.
Duterte emphasized that corruption fundamentally degrades the purpose of governance, transforming public service into a self-serving enterprise.
“Nawawala rin ito sa tuwing ang serbisyo publiko ay nagiging pribadong negosyo. Kung ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno ay mala-sindikato sa pagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan,” she added.
The Vice President outlined the economic consequences of corruption, noting that misappropriated public funds directly violate the rights of citizens by depriving vulnerable sectors of essential services.
“Every peso stolen from the people’s treasury steals a child’s freedom from hunger. It steals a student’s freedom from illiteracy or substandard education. It steals a patient’s freedom to obtain quality healthcare,” she said.
According to Duterte, the damage inflicted by dishonest officials extends far beyond financial losses, impacting the very core of human dignity and national liberty.
“Ang korapsyon ay hindi lamang pagnanakaw ng pera. It steals opportunity, it steals dignity, and it steals hope. And ultimately, it steals freedom itself,” she remarked.
Drawing inspiration from Filipino revolutionaries who continued to resist colonial rule following the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Duterte encouraged the public to embody that same spirit of perseverance.
“Pinili nila ang paglaban kaysa pagsuko, ang dangal kaysa pagpapasakop,” she noted.
Concluding her address, Duterte urged Filipinos to reject the normalization of bad governance and remain vigilant in demanding accountability.
She stressed that liberty requires continuous defense from the citizenry.
“Freedom is never permanent unless it is defended. Sovereignty survives only when a people refuse to surrender it,” she told the audience.
Her final appeal focused on the necessity of moral leadership, calling on citizens to actively champion transparency and ethical governance.
“Piliin natin ang katotohanan. Piliin natin ang pananagutan. At higit sa lahat, piliin natin ang pag-asa,” Duterte concluded.