Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday, March 28, celebrated the birthday of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose leadership "truly prioritized the safety and dignity of every Filipino family."
Duterte thanked all the support groups, volunteers, and millions of Filipinos around the world who organized celebrations to honor him on his 81st birthday.
"But as we celebrate, we also stand firm. The defense of his rights is a defense of our national sovereignty," she said.
The Vice President then said that Filipinos must remain vigilant against the weaponization of the law as well as the unconstitutional intrusion of foreign bodies that seek to bypass our own courts.
"Our justice system must remain independent, serving only the mandate of the Filipino people and never the interests of foreign powers," she said.
"To the Filipino people: thank you for being our strength. Through the storms and challenges, your resilience remains our inspiration," she added, calling for a continued fight for the honor of the country.