On Holy Monday, Vice President Sara Duterte urged Filipinos to dedicate themselves to prayer and fasting during Holy Week, emphasizing the importance of healing and unity amidst the nation’s challenges.
In a recorded video message, Duterte highlighted Lent as a time for reflection and renewal, particularly as the country faces severe trials and deepening divisions. She encouraged Filipinos to embrace the values of compassion, faith, and unity.
“As our nation endures immense challenges and growing discord, Lent serves as an invitation to a season of healing, repentance, and reflection on the values we hold dear as Filipinos: compassion, faith, and unity,” Duterte said.
The vice president underscored the significance of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, expressing hope that it would inspire Filipinos to strengthen their faith during moments of weakness, despair, or conflict. She called on the public to emulate Christ’s love by teaching, spreading, and using it to build stronger communities.
“May we follow the example of Jesus’ love for us—teach it, spread it, and use it to strengthen communities that are rooted in faith and service to others and the nation. Let us have faith. Let us unite. We will overcome the darkness. God save the Philippines,” she added.
Duterte’s message comes amid her family’s escalating conflict with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration. The feud began with her resignation from Marcos’ cabinet and intensified when she disclosed commissioning an assassination plan against Marcos, his wife Liza, and cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her own demise.
The conflict reached its peak last month when her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested and detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. He faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s controversial war on illegal drugs.
