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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider It will be a 'sad' Christmas for Filipinos due to gov't corruption, abuses—VP Sara

It will be a 'sad' Christmas for Filipinos due to gov't corruption, abuses—VP Sara

Published Dec 6, 2025 08:16 am
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
A “sad” Christmas awaits Filipinos because of the rampant government corruption and abuses, Vice President Sara Duterte said, but she also believed that the Filipinos’ resilient spirits will keep them strong enough to withstand the country’s current state.
In an exchange with supporters in The Hague that was livestreamed on Alvin & Tourism Facebook page on Friday, Dec. 5, the official expressed her dismay at the current events in the country.
“Well, malungkot ang Pasko natin dahil hindi natin gusto ang mga nangyayari sa ating bansa lalong lalo na yung mga iskandalo sa korapsyon, yung pag-aabuso sa posisyon at mga opisina sa gobyerno (Well, Christmas is sad because we don’t like what’s happening in our country, especially the corruption scandals, the abuse of those in position in government),” she stated.
But despite these problems, the Vice President pointed out that Filipinos need to be strong.
“As Filipinos, we are known to be resilient,” Duterte said.
“Kaya kailangan natin itawid itong Pasko na ito na mayroong pag-asa sa ating mga puso at siyempre ipagdasal natin yon na mas maganda ang ating taong 2026 sa kung ano man yung dinaanan natin ngayong 2025 (So, we need to spend this Christmas with hope in our hearts and of course, let us pray that our 2026 will be better compared to what we’ve been through in 2025),” she furthered.
The official is currently in The Hague, Netherlands to visit her father, detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.
It is not clear, however, if the Duterte family can spend Christmas with their patriarch inside the detention facility as holidays in the Netherlands don’t allow visitations during that day.
The Vice President flew there in anticipation of the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on her father’s interim release application.
It was denied with finality, while the defense team awaits for result of the medical assessment done by a panel of medical experts on Duterte’s fitness to stand trial.
Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s lead counsel, said they plan to re-file the plea for temporary release once it is proven that the former president is not fit to stand trial.

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VP Sara Duterte Christmas The Hague government corruption
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