Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday, March 19, underscored the need for “collective action” to resolve the prevailing terrorism problem in the country.

Vice President Sara Duterte visits the wake of the four slain soldiers at Camp Siongco in Maguindanao on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Inday Sara Duterte / Facebook)

In a statement, Duterte lamented the “painful truth” after the killing of four government troops in an ambush by suspected extremists in Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend.

“Terrorism remains a fundamental problem that requires our collective action as a nation. Lumaban tayo kontra terorismo (Let us fight terrorism),” the official said.
 

On March 17, the four soldiers were killed in an ambush by suspected Daulah Islamiyah terrorists in the town of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan while returning to base in Barangay Tuayan.
 

They were identified as Cpl. Crezaldy Espartero, Private 1st Class Carl Araña, Privates Jessie James Corpuz and Marvin Dumaguing, who belonged to the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Cavalry of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
 

As a Mindanaoan, Duterte shared she witnessed how “violence spawned poverty, lack of livelihood, internal displacement, and inequitable access to education opportunities” for the youth and made “violence of radicalism more appealing to them.”

“Suportahan natin ang edukasyon ng kabataan. Suportahan natin ang ating kasundalohan sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay impormasyon tungkol sa kalaban (Let’s support the youth’s education. Let’s support our soldiers by giving information about the enemies),” she said.
 

“I-akyat natin sa mga lokal na pamahalaan ang pagbigay prayoridad sa seguridad natin bilang mamamayan (Let us raise to the local government of giving priority to our security as citizens),” the Vice President added.