Vice President Sara Duterte candidly admitted she is not a forgiving person, even as she spoke about the spirit of Christmas during a Thanksgiving event organized by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday.
“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.
(Christmas is the season of forgiving, giving, and loving. However, I’ve always emphasized that it depends on the person. As Vice President, I have to promote the spirit of the season, but personally, I won’t forgive.)
She elaborated, “Iba-iba ang tao, ‘di ba? Mayroon sa atin mabilis magpatawad, mayroong matagal at mayroon sa atin na dinadapa sa hukay ang galit.”
(People differ in their capacity to forgive. Some forgive easily, others take time, while some hold grudges deeply.)
A Call for Discernment in Voting
During her speech, Duterte also reminded Filipinos to critically assess candidates in the upcoming elections, emphasizing the importance of qualifications over political lineage.
“Hindi dahil galing sa pamilya ng politiko ay automatic ang boto ninyo…Kailangan suriin ninyo ng mabuti kung mayroon ba siyang kakayahan bukod sa kaniyang apelyido,” she advised.
(Don’t vote for someone just because they come from a political family. Evaluate if they have the capability beyond their surname.)
She also cautioned voters against being swayed by financial assistance received from officials, stressing, “Hindi niyo utang na loob sa kanila ang ayuda.”
(You do not owe them for the cash aid.)
Ongoing Feud and Political Challenges
Duterte’s remarks come against the backdrop of a simmering rift with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. She previously alleged that plans were in place to harm her and suggested she had contingency measures against the First Couple and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Additionally, Duterte faces mounting political pressures, including an impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña. The complaint alleges corruption, betrayal of public trust, and misuse of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education.
The Makabayan bloc has also indicated support for a second impeachment complaint tied to Duterte’s fund utilization and alleged disrespect for Congress during hearings.
While Representatives Geraldine Roman and Jude Acidre affirmed the House’s duty to process impeachment complaints as part of its constitutional mandate, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that the Office of the President has no involvement in the matter.