Vice President Sara Duterte described the upcoming Christmas as “sad” for Filipinos due to widespread corruption and abuse of power in government.

“Well, malungkot ang Pasko natin dahil hindi natin gusto ang mga nangyayari sa ating bansa, lalong-lalo na yung mga iskandalo sa korapsyon at yung pag-aabuso sa posisyon at mga opisina ng gobyerno,” Duterte said in an ambush interview in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday, 5 December.

But she encouraged Filipinos to remain resilient despite the challenges the country continues to face.

“As Filipinos, we are known to be resilient. Kaya kailangan natin itawid itong Pasko na ito na merong pag-asa sa ating mga puso,” Duterte said.

“At syempre ipagdasal natin yun na mas maganda ang ating taong 2026 sa kung ano man yung dinaanan natin ngayong 2025,” the Vice President added.

Duterte also dismissed reports that the closed-circuit television cameras purchased by the Office of the Vice President were “overpriced.”

“Wala pong findings na ganun ang Commission on Audit. Kung nakita ninyo sa statement ng Office of the Vice President, pinublish na yung report ng Commission on Audit at wala silang findings of any wrongdoing sa Office of the Vice President,” Duterte said.

“In fact, meron silang binigay na unqualified opinion doon sa opisina ng Office of the Vice President,” she added.

The Vice President also thanked her colleagues and staff at the OVP for earning the unqualified opinion.

“Kailangan ko pasalamatan doon yung mga kasamahan ko sa Office of the Vice President kasi sila talaga yung — ako lang yung mukha ng opisina pero lahat ng paperwork, lahat ng trabaho sa mga utos ko, lahat ng legwork, trabaho yan ng mga personnel ng Office of the Vice President,” she said.