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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Duterte says gun violence is a 'reality,' safety of Filipinos should be treated as national priority

VP Duterte says gun violence is a 'reality,' safety of Filipinos should be treated as national priority

Published Jul 30, 2026 06:43 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte said gun violence has become a daily reality for many Filipinos, calls public safety a national priority, and urges media organizations to report her statements in full context following controversy over her remarks on the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. (Manila Bulletin/file)
Vice President Sara Duterte said gun violence has become a daily reality for many Filipinos, calls public safety a national priority, and urges media organizations to report her statements in full context following controversy over her remarks on the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. (Manila Bulletin/file)
Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, July 30, defended her recent remarks on gun violence in the Philippines, saying the issue reflects the country's reality.
In separate statements released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Duterte maintained that gun violence has become a serious public safety concern and called on media organizations to present her statements in their full context.
Gun violence is not just ‘clickbait’
"It is a fact that gun violence in the Philippines has become alarmingly commonplace. This is not clickbait, nor is it a headline that should be reduced to a passing remark," Duterte said.
"This is not merely a 'Duterte and kill, kill, kill.' It reflects the daily reality faced by Filipinos on the streets, wondering whether they can go home safely," she added.
Duterte argued that reports of shootings, killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and other violent crimes have become so common that many Filipinos have grown accustomed to seeing them in the news.
"Reports of shootings, killings, and other violent crimes have become so frequent that many Filipinos have grown accustomed to seeing them in the news," Duterte said.
"Too many people have become victims of shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and other crimes that continue to threaten lives and undermine the sense of security every citizen deserves," she added, noting that "the reality is—Filipinos do not feel safe."
Duterte stressed that public safety should be treated as a national priority rather than reduced to a passing news item.
"The safety of the Filipino people must be treated as a national priority, not as a mere single-line news item," Duterte said. "This is not just about a remark or another news story about Sara Duterte. This is about our children and their future," she added.
Calls for responsible journalism
In a separate statement, Duterte called out a news organization over what she described as a "deliberately spliced and misleading" video published on its official social media platforms on July 29.
According to Duterte, the video extracted a single statement from her speech while omitting the explanation that immediately followed.
She said the edited clip created "a false and misleading impression" that was inconsistent with the substance, intent, and context of her remarks.
"The circulating post is a clear example of a statement being taken out of context and presented in a misleading manner to generate public outrage and online engagement at the expense of accuracy and responsible journalism," Duterte said.
The Vice President reiterated her call for media organizations to uphold "the highest standards of responsible journalism" by ensuring that reporting is fair, contextual, and accurate.
She also urged media organizations to avoid selective editing or sensationalized presentations that could mislead the public.
"The Filipino people deserve journalism that informs truthfully, reports responsibly, and presents facts in their proper context," Duterte said. "Public discourse is strengthened not by sensationalism, but by integrity, fairness, and respect for the truth," she added.
Duterte's latest statements came after she drew public attention for remarks in The Hague, where she cited the prevalence of gun violence in the Philippines while discussing the International Criminal Court's (ICC) case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. 
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/30/vp-sara-cites-gun-violence-in-philippines-to-question-icc-drug-war-case-against-ex-president-duterte

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte Sara Duterte gun violence Gun violence Philippines Rodrigo Duterte ICC case Office of the Vice President Philippines
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