Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday urged Filipinos to support the campaign against racism in the spirit of unity, peace, and progress for the country.

Duterte made the call in a message during the observance of the United Nations International Day of Peace which is observed every 21st of September around the world.
This year's observance centers on ending racism.

"The message to end the pervading culture of racism as the core of this year's observance of the UN International Day of Peace highlights the universality of our fight to be recognized, respected, and be accorded our equal rights as a nation with diverse culture, traditions, and religions," Duterte said.

"Racism as a source of conflict carves painful wounds that linger through generations — resulting in a cycle of violence inflamed by raging hate of a race against another race," the vice president added.

Duterte said every person has a moral obligation to end racism and address the web of violence interlocking around the culture of hate.

"We cannot allow hate to poison our differences or allow it to overpower our unity as one community that respects each other's ethnicity, culture, and religion," she said.

She added: "Instead, we should tap on our differences and ensure that every person can freely exercise their cultural rights and other fundamental rights recognized by international laws."

Abe funeral

Meanwhile, Duterte on Wednesday said she will go to Japan next week to attend the state funeral of assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

She made the announcement on Facebook after Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa visited the Office of the Vice President earlier in the day.

She said she told the envoy she would bring condolence letters from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte also met with seven ambassadors who paid a courtesy call Wednesday.

Ambassadors Kazuhiko Koshikawa of Japan, Peter Kell of New Zealand, Tull Traisorat of Thailand, Luc Véron of European Union, Dr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki of Qatar, Shambhu Kumaran of India, and MaryKay Loss Carlson of the United States presented their credentials to Duterte.