Vice President Sara Duterte surprised Filipinos in Nagoya, Japan, over the weekend with a powerful revelation: she wrote a song about corruption—one she hopes will inspire people to stand up against greed and dishonesty in government.
Before a cheering crowd, Duterte launched into a fiery speech, once again criticizing the Marcos administration, which she called the very “face of abuses and corruption.”
“Hindi siya sincere, hindi siya tapat,” she declared, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Unang-una, hindi na nga niya alam kung ano ang gagawin, pangalawa, hindi pa siya tapat sa kailangan niyang gawin. ‘Yan ang kalagayan ng ating bansa ngayon. ‘Yan ang pagkakamali natin.”
(“He is not sincere. He is not honest about what he has to do. First, he doesn’t even know what to do. Second, he is not truthful in what he must do. This is the state of our country today. This is the mistake we made.”)
Duterte reminded the audience that she had long warned of the dangers of electing the wrong leaders. “Ngayon, nakikita na natin kung ano ‘yung nangyayari kapag mali na leader ang pinipili natin,” she said.
(“Now, we see what happens when we choose the wrong leader.”)
Then came the emotional moment. Duterte told the crowd she had written a song to express her frustrations and to rally the people. With raised voices, she asked the community to sing with her.
The lyrics carried anger, grief, and defiance:
“Kami ay apoy na hindi mapatay,
Hakbang ng matapang, sabay-sabay.
Sigaw ng bayan, lumaban na,
Mga sakim, durugin na.”
She explained that she penned the song while investigations into irregularities in billion-peso flood control projects were unfolding—cases that have implicated lawmakers and DPWH personnel.
But Duterte herself is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, the House impeached her over allegations of misusing ₱612.5 million in confidential funds and even claims that she contracted someone to kill President Marcos.
In August, however, the Senate decided to archive the impeachment articles after the Supreme Court ruled her impeachment unconstitutional. The House, along with other groups, has since asked the High Court to reconsider its ruling.
Despite her own battles, Duterte’s message in Japan was clear: Filipinos must not bow to corruption. “Taas noo, humahakbang. Wag yumuko kailanman,” she sang—her voice rising as if to echo the frustration of millions back home.
