VP Sara on Araw ng Kagitingan: Face challenges of our time; don't surrender
Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP)
On the Day of Valor, Vice President Sara Duterte encouraged Filipinos to face the challenges of their time with the same courage the heroes in Bataan showed.
In her Araw ng Kagitingan message, Duterte also told the citizenry to not surrender in facing various challenges.
"Kagaya ng ating mga bayani sa Bataan, huwag tayong sumuko (Like our heroes in Bataan, let us not surrender)," Duterte said on Thursday, April 9.
"Harapin natin ang mga hamon ng ating panahon taglay ang parehong diwa ng katatagan—panindigan ang isang matatag, ligtas, at tunay na malayang Pilipinas (Let us face the challenges of our time with the same spirit of resilience—standing firm for a strong, secure, and truly free Philippines)," Duterte added.
The Vice President honored the brave soldiers "who stood their ground in Bataan," underscoring that their sacrifice was not only a display of military strength, but also a profound testament to their love for the country.
"The Day of Valor reminds us that our freedom was bought at a high price. It is a reminder that the defense of our Republic is a continuous duty that falls upon every generation," Duterte said.
"Today, valor is found in our courage to protect our sovereignty and our discipline to uphold the rule of law," she added.
True valor, she stressed, is found in "our firm resolve to protect our sovereignty."
"Ang anumang pagtatangka ng mga banyagang institusyon na manghimasok sa ating hustisya ay isang tuwirang hamon sa kalayaang ipinaglaban ng ating mga bayani sa Bataan (Any attempt by foreign institutions to interfere in our justice system is a direct challenge to the freedom fought for by our heroes in Bataan)," Duterte said.
She reminded Filipinos that "we are capable of governing ourselves and enforcing our own laws under our own courts."