Solely ‘true unity’ attains freedom

Vice President Sara Duterte makes a speech to mark the 127th Independence Day on Thursday, June 12, 2025. — Screengrab from Inday Sara Duterte/Fb

MANILA, Philippines — Solely “true unity” attains freedom, Vice President Sara Duterte mentioned on Thursday in a speech marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Duterte celebrated Independence Day with Filipinos in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“This present day can also be a reminder that freedom can solely be attained if we now have true unity as a result of in our unity, we can have power, willpower, braveness,” she mentioned in a speech in Filipino to her compatriots.

Unity was a key message of her and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2022 marketing campaign. Their alliance, dubbed the “UniTeam,” has since soured.

“Nonetheless, our unity will expose the pursuits that oppose the pursuits of Filipinos,” Duterte mentioned, subtly referring to her once-ally.

READ: ‘Damaged from begin’, UniTeam sees full collapse

“Their true colours present and they’re unveiled. By means of violence and the ability they borrowed, they are going to make us endure,” she added.

The Vice President particularly cited her father and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and turnover to the Worldwide Prison Courtroom within the Hague, the Netherlands final March.

The previous commander-in-chief was surrendered to the worldwide tribunal to face allegations of crimes in opposition to humanity dedicated throughout his struggle on medication, which killed as much as an estimated 30,000 individuals.

READ: Sara Duterte to Filipinos: Don’t give up our freedom to traitors

Earlier on Thursday, in a video message, Duterte marked Independence Day by urging Filipinos “to not give up their freedom to traitors.”

Duterte left for Malaysia for a “private journey,” her workplace mentioned final Tuesday. /das