Duterte tells Filipinos Christmas is a time for forgiveness, but says she won't forgive her enemies

Vice President Sara Duterte told Filipinos that Christmas is a time for forgiveness, but noted she still won't forgive those who wronged her.

"Ang Pasko po ay panahon ng pagpapatawad, pagmamahalan, at pagbibigay," Duterte told reporters during the Office of the Vice President (OVP)'s gift-giving activity in Ifugao on Dec. 3.

She said that as the country's second highest official, she's expected to say those things since it's Christmas season.

"Lagi ko pong sinasabi na depende po ‘yan sa tao," she said.

"Pero kung ako, hindi po talaga ako magpapatawad," added Duterte. "Nasa sa inyo na 'yan kung magpapatawad kayo. Iba-iba naman ang tao eh, 'di ba? Mayroon sa ating mabilis magpatawad, mayroon sa ating matagal, at mayroon sa ating dinadala na sa hukay ang galit."

Duterte didn't specify the people she's not going to forgive this Christmas.

Duterte's statement came on the heels of two impeachment cases filed against her.

The first case, filed by civil society organizations, religious groups, and families of drug war victims on Dec. 2, accused Duterte of corruption and misconduct.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the complaint, said Duterte "deserves to be impeached for her abuse of power and plunder of the nation’s coffers."

The second case, filed by activists, teachers, former congressional members and others on Dec. 4, accused Duterte of betraying public trust while she was also Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

Former lawmaker Teddy Casino, who's one of the complainants, took note of the OVP and DepEd's confidential funds worth P775 million. Of that amount, he pointed out the "suspicious liquidation" of P125 million "in just 11 days" at the end of 2022.

“The Filipino people deserve a vice president who is ethical, accountable, and committed to public service—not one who weaponizes authority for personal gain,” Cendaña added.

Duterte's statement on forgiveness—and its lack thereof—also came amid her falling out with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whom she joined forces with under the UniTeam banner in the 2022 elections.

Their political divorce's wake reached new heights when Duterte, during a midnight Zoom press conference on Nov. 23, said she contracted a hitman to assassinate Marcos, his wife First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.

During an expletive-laden rant against Marcos and his kin, she also accused the First Lady of funneling cash-filled envelopes through the DepEd. She likewise implied that Romualdez, during a plane ride, told her that the Marcoses were pilfering campaign funds.

The press conference happened amid a House of Representatives panel's months-long probe into the OVP and DepEd's alleged misuse of funds.

On Oct. 18, Duterte said Marcos isn't capable of leading the Philippines, and that Filipinos are supposedly "on this road to hell."

She also shared that she warned Sen. Imee Marcos, the presidential sister, that she would personally dig up the body of their father, the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and throw it into the West Philippine Sea if the attacks against her didn't stop.

The VP also said she imagined cutting the younger Marcos' head off for supposedly refusing to give his watch to a Philippine Military Academy cadet during a graduation ceremony. She then called their relationship "toxic."