VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte has declared that the personal attacks hurled against her do not matter, asserting that the true source of her discontent is the continued suffering and “abuse” faced by the Filipino people.
In a press briefing on Monday Sept. 29, 2025, she said, “Masama ang loob ko dahil sa ginawa nila sa bayan (My heart is heavy because of what they have done to the nation).”
Duterte emphasized that while her political rivals and critics may focus on personal slander, her attention remains fixed on issues of national consequence. She dismissed the attempts to discredit her personally as a mere distraction.
According to the vice president, the genuine cause of her dismay is the “pag-abusong patuloy na dinaranas ng sambayanan (continued abuses being experienced by the people).”
While she did not specify what or who she was referring to as the source of the “abuses,” the statement is expected to intensify the political discourse and scrutiny on the administration’s handling of various national challenges, including economic pressures and governance issues.
