MANILA, Philippines — Iginiit ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong Huwebes na seryosong suliranin sa kaligtasan ng publiko ang karahasan gamit ang baril at iba pang krimen, kasabay ng panawagang gawin itong pambansang prayoridad.
Sa mga pahayag na inilabas ng Office of the Vice President (OVP), ipinagtanggol ni Duterte ang kanyang mga komento kaugnay ng gun violence at hinikayat ang mga organisasyon ng media na ilahad ang kanyang mga sinabi sa buo at tamang konteksto.
“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,” ani Duterte.
“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,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ng Bise Presidente na naging pangkaraniwan na sa balita ang mga insidente ng pamamaril, pagpatay at iba pang mararahas na krimen.
“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,” aniya, at binigyang-diin na “the reality is—Filipinos do not feel safe.”
“The safety of the Filipino people must be treated as a national priority, not as a mere single-line news item,” ani Duterte. “This is not just about a remark or another news story about Sara Duterte. This is about our children and their future,” dagdag niya.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag, tinuligsa rin ni Duterte ang isang news organization dahil sa umano’y “deliberately spliced and misleading” na video na inilathala nito noong Hulyo 29.
Ayon sa kanya, isang bahagi lamang ng kanyang talumpati ang ginamit sa video habang inalis ang paliwanag na kasunod nito, dahilan upang makalikha umano ng maling impresyon.
“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,” ani Duterte.
Nanawagan siya sa mga organisasyon ng media na panatilihin ang “the highest standards of responsible journalism” at iwasan ang selective editing at sensationalized na paglalahad.
“The Filipino people deserve journalism that informs truthfully, reports responsibly, and presents facts in their proper context,” ani Duterte. “Public discourse is strengthened not by sensationalism, but by integrity, fairness, and respect for the truth,” dagdag niya.
Inilabas ang mga pahayag matapos umani ng pansin ang mga sinabi ni Duterte sa The Hague hinggil sa laganap na gun violence sa Pilipinas habang tinatalakay ang kaso ng International Criminal Court laban kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Dave Baluyot
