VP Sara: Help empower women amid insurgency concerns

VP Sara Duterte called for better opportunities for women on International Women’s Day on March 8. (Photo from Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — On International Women’s Day, Vice President Sara Duterte called for better opportunities and freedom to decide for women.

“Para sa atin, dapat ay laging may puwang, oportunidad, o kalayaan ang mga kababaihan para magpasya at ipakita ang kanilang kakayahan, dunong, lakas, at mga taglay na katangiang mahalaga sa ating buhay,” Duterte said in a video posted on her official Facebook page.

(For us, there should always be openings, opportunities, or freedom for women to decide and to show their skills, knowledge, strength, and capabilities that are important to our lives.)

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Duterte made the message about celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, while the whole month of March is dedicated to National Women’s Month in the Philippines.

She also reflected on the women victims of insurgency in the country, citing Sharmaine Baroquillo, a doctor who was shot in Maguindanao del Sur, and Hannah Joy Cesista, a lawyer who was also allegedly a member of the rebel insurgent group New People’s Army (NPA) and was killed in a military encounter in Bohol.

“Isaisip natin si Dr. Sharmaine Baroquillo na isang kawani ng pamahalaan na biktima ng karahasan at ang abogadang kasapi ng New People’s Army na namatay sa Bohol habang pinaglalaban ang bulok na ideolohiya ng terorismo at pagpapabagsak sa pamahalaan,” she said.

(Let us think of Dr. Sharmaine Baroquillo, a government employee and a victim of violence, and the lawyer who was part of the New People’s Army who died in Bohol while fighting for a rotten ideology of terrorism and the destabilization of the government.)

“Nariyan din ang mga ina ng mga kabataang inarmasan at biktima ng panlilinlang ng NPA na hanggang ngayon ay nawawala o di kaya umuwi nang wala ng buhay,” she continued.

(There are also those mothers of the children who were armed and victims of the NPA’s deception that are up to now yet to be found or went home, lifeless.)

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Duterte also included the women family members of police and soldiers who risked their lives for the safety of the land in her commemoration.

She also called on the public to help with initiatives to assist women and support laws to improve their quality of life.

“Makiisa tayo sa mga biktima. Isulong natin ang sapat at angkop na edukasyon para sa publiko. Tulungan ang mga grupong tunay na tagapagtanggol ng karapatan at kapakanan ng mga kababaihan. Suportahan natin ang mga batas para sa kababaihan,” she said.

(Let us be one with the victims. Let us advance proper education for the public. Let us help the groups that fight for women’s rights and well-being. Let us support laws for women.)

“At bilang mga pamilya, tandaan po natin na pundasyon ng isang ligtas, patas, at maunlad na lipunan ang ating mga tahanan,” she concluded.

(As a family, let us remember that our homes are the foundation of a safe, fair, and prosperous society.)