Sara: We deserve better

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday scored the government and its officials for “continuously” allowing Filipinos to go hungry, live in poverty and remain vulnerable to crimes, calling them “mere individuals willing to deceive the people” just to sit in office.

“We are so tired of seeing the people being left behind, treated as worthless, unpleasant and subjugated to another race. We, Filipinos, deserve more than what we are hearing and seeing from the government right now. We, Filipinos, deserve better,” she said.

In an open letter addressed to Filipino Muslims who expressed support for her following her claim of security risks, Duterte thanked all her supporters and said it is not her safety that is important but rather the security of the country.

Duterte said the country should be led by people who are truly concerned about the public and capable of helping the country prosper through an upright government, but is instead given individuals unfaithful to their sworn duties.

“Because of this, the only thing that prevails over us is fear for the future of our children,” Duterte said in Filipino.

Following the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon two weeks ago, the Vice President also criticized the absence of a comprehensive plan and stable infrastructure against calamities.

“But the Philippines now has a government that admits that we don’t even have a flood-control master plan,” she added.

Duterte said the country’s health care system should be one that “truly takes care of the health of each Filipino and to mitigate medical expenses whenever disaster strikes.”

“But the Philippines now has PhilHealth which, instead of maximizing its funds, would be used in things that have nothing to do with human health,” she added, referring to the state health insurer.

The Vice President also took a swipe at the House of Representatives, which she accused of being out of touch with the realities behind the shortage of police officers.

“The country should have representatives who understand that, in order to fully address the shortage, there is a need to leverage available technology and leapfrog into the future where