Vice President Sara Duterte asked Filipinos to stand against terrorism in her message for the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Vice President Sara Duterte (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

In a statement, the official reminded her countrymen of its role to combat terrorism.

“Huwag nating kalimutan na bilang isang bansa, may responsibilidad tayong manindigan laban sa terorismo (Let us not forget that as a country, we have a responsibility to fight terrorism),” Duterte said.

“Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang isang matatag, mapayapa, at isang komunidad na malaya mula sa banta ng terorismo (Together, let us build a community that a strong, peaceful, and free from threats of terrorism),” she added.

Duterte, who was once vice co-chair of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said that terrorism remains a threat despite efforts to combat it.

For the day of remembrance, she asked to remember victims and the dangers brought by terrorism.

“At ipagdangal natin sila sa pamamagitan ng mas matapang at nagkakaisang lakas laban sa mga hadlang sa ating kalayaan, kaunlaran, at buhay na may kapayapaan (Let us honor them by a brave and united strength against the obstacles to our freedom, progress, and peaceful lives),” she said.

“Ang ating pagsasawalang bahala sa banta ng terorismo ay pagyurak sa alaala ng mga biktima nito (Our neglect of the threat of terrorism is also a disrespect to the memories of its victims),” she added.

The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism is commemorated every Aug. 21 “in order to honour and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the United Nations said.