Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the government anew in a statement tackling the state of security, health care, infrastructure, and democracy in the Philippines, lamenting that Filipinos “deserve better” and not leaders who are traitors to their sworn duty.

Vice President Sara Duterte (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

Titled “Mensahe Para Sa Aking Mga Kapatid na Muslim (A Message to My Muslim Friends),” the official thanked the Muslim tribes of Iranun, Kagan, Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama and Tausug for courageously expressing their concern for her security.

However, the Vice President said her security isn’t important than the security of the country.

“Ang Pilipinas ay pinamumunuan dapat ng mga taong may malasakit at kakayanan para itaguyod ang malinis na pamahalaan at pag-unlad ng bayan (The Philippines should be ruled by people who have concern and ability to uphold an honest government and the nation’s progress),” she said.

“Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay pinamumunuan ng mga taong walang katapatan sa trabahong sinumpaan. Kaya ang tanging nananaig sa atin ay takot para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak (But the Philippines now is being led by people who are dishonest to their sworn duty. That’s why we are afraid for the future of our children),” she added.

Duterte, who only recently left the Marcos Cabinet as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), bemoaned that Filipinos continue to suffer from poor infrastructure, health care, security, and even foreign intervention.

With the Filipinos hard work and excellence, the Philippines should be leading neighboring countries, she lamented.

“Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay patuloy na nagugutom, naghihirap, at lumulubog nang dahil sa mga mapanlinlang para maupo sa pwesto (But the Philippines now continue to go hungry, poor, and declining because of deceitful people who want to be in power),” Duterte said.

“We, Filipinos, deserve more than what we are hearing and seeing from the government right now. We, Filipinos, deserve better. We, Filipinos, should be the best,” she added.

In her message, the official accused the government of failing to have a “flood-control master plan” despite the threat of numerous typhoons yearly.

She also lamented the lack of a health care system in the country that alleviates the medical expenses of Filipinos.

Duterte also criticized the House of Representatives for failing to understand “that the shortage (of police personnel) is a figure that cannot be solved during our lifetime due to the annually ballooning population and lack of budgetary resources to hire more personnel.”

Instead of addressing the shortage of police personnel by leveraging the “available technology” and passing necessary laws, she cited that Congress is interfering in “other issues.”

The official hit back on airport officials, who should be advocating for world-class facility and security in the ports but have even failed to investigate how a video footage and flight details of passengers, including minors, were publicized.

Duterte, her husband, mother, and minor children were caught in a video footage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 leaving during the height of Super Typhoon Carina.

Flight details, such as their flight number and destination, were also reported.

She also criticized the government for allowing foreign intervention in domestic issues, such as the case of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against her father’s bloody war on drugs campaign.

“Ang Pilipinas, bilang isang malayang bansa, ay tumitindig dapat laban sa mga panghihimasok ng mga dayuhan sa ating mga domestic affairs (The Philippines, as a free nation, should be standing up against foreign intervention in our domestic affairs),” she said.

“Subalit ang Pilipinas ngayon ay dali-daling yuyuko at susunod na lamang sa anumang kagustuhan at pangingialam ng mga banyaga tulad nalang ng ICC (But the Philippines is quickly bowing and merely following whatever foreigners like the ICC want),” she furthered.

This came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week said Philippine government will not hinder the Interpol from executing its duties if the ICC orders the arrest of certain individuals in the country.

Duterte, who was Marcos’ running mate in the Uniteam tandem of the 2022 elections, never admitted to a falling out with the President, but she claimed personal and work issues led to her resignation from his Cabinet.