Vice President Sara Duterte urged on Filipinos to be discerning amid what she calls are attempts to cover up the rampant corruption in government.

“Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga paninira (I urge my countrymen to be vigilant and don’t be swayed by propaganda),” she said in a statement sent by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“Hindi ito tungkol sa paghahanap ng katotohanan — ito ay tungkol sa pagtakip ng nakawan sa kaban ng bayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang nananagot (This is not about seeking the truth — this is about covering up the corruption in government where no one has been held accountable until now),” she added.

While Duterte has not mentioned the specifics, multiple criminal complaints—including plunder, bribery, malversation, and graft—have been filed against her and 15 others before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, Dec. 12.

The complaints were lodged by civil society leaders over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

In her statement, she recalled how the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability launched what she described as “full-blown fishing expedition” to impeach her.

“Then came the revelation that signatures for my impeachment were being courted in exchange for budget allocations. Several lawmakers themselves recently confirmed how the constitutional process was being cheapened and reduced to a marketplace,” Duterte stated.

“Another fishing expedition is now being launched, as they scramble to weaponize any accusation they can manufacture just to create a semblance of procedural legitimacy for an investigation,” she added.

The official called on Filipinos to stand strong amid the challenges of a failing economy and the high prices of food, and asked them to pray for peace.

She also assured the public that the OVP “will continue to deliver efficient, accessible, and responsive public service for the good of all Filipinos.”