If I were to ask Dora the Explorer to spot the audacity of Vice President Sara Duterte, she’d be searching forever.
I find it ironic that the Vice President of the country was able to stand on stage to join the graduates of Kananga National High School’s senior high department, delivering a speech that seeks to “mold” the youth into future leaders, while she knowingly used to express her longing for the death of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. publicly.
The question is: Can she truly move our student leaders if she herself fails to be the leader our nation needs?
Standing high and mighty on stage while the stolen Php 612.5 million in confidential funds lies behind her in the shadows. Duterte has allegedly engaged in several abuses of her position since holding public office, starting as vice mayor, then as mayor of Davao City. From 2006 to 2015, across various joint accounts of both Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, approximately Php 2 billion was reported to have been accumulated.
This raises the question of her accountability and transparency—whether she is truly worthy of standing tall in front of many student-leaders, pretending to be what the future needs.
Let me be perfectly clear: words that lack integrity cannot build a nation—pretending to serve the country will not change the system. And if this is the future leader we are looking at, then we are truly headed for a doomed society.
However, Duterte is defended by individuals who state that she is the kind of “leader” we lack. Though I can say, with our system today, we are filled with her kind.
Let me explain further:
Our system is submerged in corruption due to the various governors who stab the nation in the back by robbing it blind. And going back to the confidential funds that were squandered on questionable accounts, I can confidently say that she is not who many believe she is.
Although many say otherwise, it is still evident that she, as our leader, should raise fear in each Filipino. Why? Because leaders do not imagine brutally murdering anyone, let alone it be the President of the Philippines.
Imagine this: if someone as powerful as Marcos received a death threat publicly from Duterte, then what more if she decides the same for us Filipinos?
Our nation should not romanticize manipulation; we should be scared, even angry. Because the lack of leadership should raise concern, not be worshipped. If Duterte seeks to mold students into future leaders, then it should begin with her. Yet, with the kind of person that she is, let’s not raise our expectations for a better nation with her as the future president.
We’re already going through a terrible, mediocre system. Let’s not worsen the situation by even imagining her as the future president.
Because if you were to ask me if looking at her, do I see a leader?
I’d answer with clarity and honesty: I cannot see leadership, only manipulation.
Written by Nessa, Insight PH
Nessa, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
