VP Sara: Terrorism remains problem requiring collective action

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 20, 2024): VP Sara: Terrorism remains problem requiring collective action (By Wilnard Bacelonia)

FIGHT VS. TERRORISM. Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during a meeting of the Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Davao City on Feb. 28, 2024. Duterte on Tuesday (March 19) called for a collective action against terrorism following the death of four soldiers in an ambush in Maguindanao del Sur. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)

MANILA – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has called for a collective action against terrorism following the death of four soldiers in an ambush in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur.

In a statement issued Tuesday night, Duterte said the lives of soldiers sacrificed to maintain peace in the country should be reciprocated with the willingness of everyone to fight terrorism.

"The death of four soldiers in an ambush in Maguindanao del Sur points us to the painful truth that terrorism remains a fundamental problem that requires our collective action as a nation," Duterte said, noting this could be done by supporting education.

"Suportahan natin ang ating kasundalohan sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay impormasyon tungkol sa kalaban (Let us support our soldiers by providing information about the enemy)," she added.

As a Mindanaoan, Duterte said she witnessed how violence spawned poverty, lack of livelihood, internal displacement and inequitable access to education opportunities for children and the youth, which ultimately made radicalism more appealing.

She said there are a lot of problems that need to be addressed apart from terrorism which are quality of education, prices of commodities, security and criminality.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221185