Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday, June 12, urged Filipinos to choose truth, accountability, and hope as the nation marked the 128th Philippine Independence Day, warning that corruption, abuse of power, and weak governance threaten the freedoms won through the sacrifices of past generations.

“Piliin natin ang katotohanan. Piliin natin ang pananagutan. At higit sa lahat, piliin natin ang pag-asa (Let us choose truth. Let us choose accountability. And above all, let us choose hope),” she said.

Speaking before supporters in Davao City, Duterte called on Filipinos to stand for truth, accountability, freedom, and sovereignty as the nation commemorated Independence Day.

“On this Independence Day, let us resolutely stand up again for truth, for accountability, for freedom, and for sovereignty,” Duterte said.

Duterte reflected on the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes who fought for the country's freedom and warned that sovereignty can also be threatened by corruption and poor governance.

“Today, we celebrate not merely a date, but the courage of a people who fought for freedom and sovereignty,” Duterte said.

She recalled how President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, after more than 300 years of colonial rule.

Duterte stressed that freedom was not freely given but earned through the courage and sacrifices of Filipinos who resisted foreign domination and fought to preserve the nation's dignity and self-determination.

“This is our inheritance,” she said, emphasizing that generations of Filipinos chose “the fight over surrender” and “dignity over submission.”

While honoring the country's struggle against foreign colonizers, Duterte argued that sovereignty can also be weakened from within when public service is abused for personal gain.

“We fought for our sovereignty against foreign invaders. But sovereignty is not lost only to those who come from foreign shores,” she said.

The Vice President criticized corruption in government, saying that public funds lost through corrupt practices deprive Filipinos of essential services and opportunities.

“Every peso stolen from the people's treasury steals a child's freedom from hunger. It steals a student's freedom from illiteracy or substandard education. It steals a patient's freedom to obtain quality healthcare,” Duterte said.

She added that ghost projects and questionable government contracts deny communities much-needed infrastructure, including classrooms and roads that support economic development.

Duterte noted that corruption is not merely the theft of money.

“It steals opportunity, it steals dignity, and it steals hope. And ultimately, it steals freedom itself,” she added.

Duterte invoked the sacrifices of national heroes such as José Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Antonio Luna, saying they fought to ensure that Filipinos could live with justice, dignity, opportunity, and hope.

She stressed that freedom and sovereignty must be continuously defended and that citizens should not accept poor governance as inevitable.

“Sovereignty survives only when a people refuse to surrender it,” Duterte said.

“Hope survives when citizens refuse to accept bad governance as their destiny,” she added.

On the occasion of Independence Day, Duterte urged Filipinos once again to choose truth, accountability, and hope.

“Hope survives when citizens act together, make their voices heard, and demand what our heroes fought so gallantly for—the right of every Filipino to a dignified human life,” Duterte said.

“Hope survives when our people believe they have a better future,” she added.

She also encouraged Filipinos to remain steadfast against forces that seek to determine the nation's future and to uphold freedom and sovereignty as the country's enduring legacy.