EDITORIAL — Yes, we do deserve better

In a letter addressed to the Muslim community, Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio criticized the Philippine government on several fronts including disaster response, healthcare, security concerns, and other issues.

“The Philippines should be led by people who care and have the ability to promote clean government and the development of the country. However, the Philippines today is governed by those who have no loyalty to their sworn duty. We are now being overcome by fear for the future of our children,” she said in Filipino.

"We, Filipinos deserve more than what we are hearing and seeing from the government right now. We, Filipinos, deserve better."

We cannot belie that a lot of what she said is true. Government response when it comes to disaster still leaves a lot to be desired, even as we are supposed to be “experienced” when it comes to natural calamities. There are also many in the government who are more interested in protecting their own interests instead of serving the public. And yes, we do deserve better from the government than what we are hearing and seeing right now.

However, Carpio acts as if she isn’t part of the same government she is criticizing.

By taking a swipe at the Philippine government for its alleged negligence and ineptitude, she is essentially pointing the finger back at herself. Perhaps she has forgotten she isn’t just part of the same government she is lambasting, she is, in fact, the second-highest and second most-powerful official and someone who can make things happen with the power of her office and the size of her budget.

Perhaps she was just hoping to score some brownie points with the Muslim community with her statements, but this criticism backfires and shows bad taste on her part.

Of course, she is more than welcome to make the corrections to the things she just said.

Instead of just complaining and criticizing, it’s always better to do something about a problem. Let the Office of the Vice President do something about the things she is complaining about. Again, as the second most powerful person of the land, she has the power, the people, and the budget to do so.

We, Filipinos deserve better after all.