Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Vice President Sara Duterte defended her remark about gun violence that made rounds on social media, arguing that it is a “reality” faced by Filipinos and should not be reduced to mere “clickbait.” </p><p>In a speech before supporters near the International Criminal Court in The Hague on July 29, Duterte justified the implementation of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s drug war, and cast doubt on the authenticity of drug war victims “because gun violence is so common in the Philippines.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/bir-submits-duterte-tax-records-to-impeachment-court-1102"><strong>BIR submits Duterte tax records to impeachment court with Marcos authorization</strong></a></div><p>“I have a husband. My husband has a mistress. I can hire a gunman for P5,000 to kill the mistress. That is how—for P5,000, that is how bad gun violence in the Philippines is. And that is, again, yes, EJK,” she said.</p><p>“So how can you say that all your listed victims, all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war? It can be that it is a crime against passion. It can be murder because of a third party in a relationship. It can be plain hold up,” she added.</p><p>“Gun violence is a reality not just a clickbait,” Duterte said in a separate statement issued Thursday, July 30, saying that gun violence in the country “has become alarmingly commonplace.”</p><p>“This is not clickbait, nor is it a headline that should be reduced to a passing remark. 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,” she noted. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/thousands-turn-out-for-duterte-in-london-2015"><strong>Thousands turn out for Duterte in London </strong></a> </div><p>The second-in-command added that “reports of shootings, killings, and other violent crimes have become so frequent that many Filipinos have grown accustomed to seeing them in the news.”</p><p>“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,” Duterte said. </p><p>The reality, according to Duterte, is that “Filipinos do not feel safe.”</p><p>“The safety of the Filipino people must be treated as a national priority not a mere single line of news item. This is not just about a remark and another news for Sara Duterte, this is about our children and their future,” she stated.</p><p>“Justice for Filipinos! God save the Philippines!” Duterte said.</p><p>In a previous interview with supporters gathering in The Hague, Duterte was asked about her thoughts on the recent incidents of school violence in the country. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/29/sara-duterte-could-not-comment-on-pax-silica-initiative-1551"><strong>Sara Duterte &#x27;could not comment&#x27; on Pax Silica initiative</strong></a></div><p>She believes that people nowadays, even government employees, are fending for themselves, calling it a “manifestation of a weak leadership.”</p><p>“Kasi nawawala ‘yung moral ascendancy ng pinakataas, ‘yung mga nasa taas. Pag sinabi natin nasa taas, ‘yung ating President, ‘yung ating mga cabinet secretaries at iba pang nagtatrabaho sa Office of the President. Kapag ganyan ‘yung nakikita ng mga tao, nawawala ‘yung respeto. Kapag nawawala ‘yung respeto, nagkakanya-kanya lahat ng tao,” she said.</p><div> </div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte defended her remark about gun violence that made rounds on social media, arguing that it is a “reality” faced by Filipinos and should not be reduced to mere “clickbait.”</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte defended her remark about gun violence that made rounds on social media, arguing that it is a “reality” faced by Filipinos and should not be reduced to mere “clickbait.”

‘Reality, not a clickbait’: Sara Duterte defends ‘gun violence’ remark

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‘Reality, not a clickbait’: Sara Duterte defends ‘gun violence’ remark

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 30, 2026 11:42 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

gun violence

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