Vice President Sara Duterte graces the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City on October 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to be “forgiving, giving, and loving” this Christmas season.

In a speech, Duterte said that as vice president, she needs to highlight the importance of forgiveness in embodying the  spirit of Christmas.

However, without naming names, Duterte said she herself will not forgive.

“Lagi ko pong sinasabi na depende po ‘yan sa tao pero dahil ako as vice president, kailangan kong sabihin sa inyo na ‘yan po ang mensahe at diwa ng Pasko. Pero po ako hindi po talaga ako magpapatawad,” Duterte said in a speech at a gift-giving activity of the Office of the Vice President in Lagawe, Ifugao on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

She then paused and smiled right after, which drew cheers from the audience.

The embattled second-in-command has been in conflict with Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — her running mate in the 2022 elections — following their fallout.

READ: VP Sara Duterte faces second impeachment complaint

READ: VP Sara Duterte faces impeachment complaint

Duterte is also locking horns with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and some House lawmakers for allegedly persecuting her staff over the ongoing inquiry into the alleged fund misuse of the OVP and Department of Education which she previously led.

In November, Duterte publicly said she already hired someone to kill Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez should the alleged assassination plot against her succeed.

Also in her speech, the vice president emphasized making amends with loved ones instead of spending Christmas lavishly.

“‘Aanhin po atin ang masarap na lechon kung yun namang kumakain sa harap natin ay masama ang loob nila sa atin?” she said.

“Kaya po ang mas importante ay simple ang selebrasyon pero masaya ang lahat ng tao sa loob ng bahay na nagse-celebrate ng pasko,” Duterte added.

VOTE ‘WISELY’

The vice president reminded voters to review campaign promises whether they are met.

Earlier, Duterte appealed to Filipinos to demand from the government the services they deserve, citing in particular Marcos Jr.’s P20/kilo of rice campaign promise in 2022.

“Una, ano ang mga pangako na napako. Pangalawa, hindi niyo utang na loob sa kanila ang ayuda. Pangatlo, hindi dahil anak ‘yan ng pulitiko ay automatic ang boto ninyo,” the vice president said.

“‘Yan po ang kailangan nating gawin para mabago natin ang mukha ng gobyerno at ng pamahalaan,” she added.

The vice president also called on voters to not blindly follow sample ballots and to be cautious of vote buying allegedly in the guise of financial aid.

“Nagiging ligal na po ang vote buying sa ating bayan. Tinatago po nila sa pangalang ayuda. Tinatago nila sa pangalang AKAP, AICS, TUPAD ang kanilang pagbibili ng boto ng mga mamamayan,” Duterte claimed.

READ: Palace distances from impeachment raps vs VP Sara Duterte

PEACE AND ORDER

The vice president also stressed in her speech the importance of attaining peace and order in communities, citing her family’s bailiwick Davao City as an example.

She said that peace and security in the city were not good during the 80s and the 90s but people started to gain confidence when peace and order was prioritized by the local government.

“Lagi po nilang sinasabi sa amin, kampante kami sa pera namin dito sa pagnenegosyo sa Davao City kasi alam namin nakikita kami, kasi alam namin na mayroong stability at mayroong peace and order,” she said.

Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte served as mayor of Davao City from 1988 to 1998 and another for almost a decade from 2001 to 2010.

The younger Duterte also served as Davao’s chief executive from 2010 to 2013, then again in 2016 to 2019 and in 2019 to 2022.

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