Vice President Sara Duterte has sounded the alarm over what she perceives as the erosion of democratic institutions in the country, claiming that state resources and government bodies are being weaponized against political rivals rather than being utilized to solve public issues.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, June 2, Duterte stated that recent political events should trouble citizens across the political spectrum.
She asserted that instead of tackling the urgent needs of the populace, public funds and government machinery are being deployed to suppress political dissent.
While she did not pinpoint specific events, she drew attention to an escalating hostility directed at those who criticize the administration.
“A democracy cannot survive when those in power see every critic as an enemy and every opposing voice as a threat,” she said.
The Vice President emphasized that government officials and legislators must be allowed to fulfill their constitutional mandates independently, completely insulated from coercion, intimidation, or threats.
Duterte further argued that a functioning democracy relies heavily on a robust opposition, suggesting that actions meant to stifle critics stem from insecurity rather than political strength.
She highlighted three specific concerns plaguing the current political landscape: alleged distractions from lingering controversies surrounding flood control projects, maneuvers linked to a politically driven impeachment plot, and ongoing pushes for Charter change aimed at extending political power.
“These are the symptoms of a government that has become more preoccupied with protecting power than serving the people,” she said.
Concluding her statement, Duterte maintained that criticism does not erode a democracy, but leaders who fear accountability do.
She urged the administration to prioritize solving the nation’s problems over silencing its detractors.