VP Sara Responds to Claims That Her Book Isang Kaibigan is ‘Plagiarized’
ISANG KAIBIGAN – Vice President Sara Duterte has responded to allegations that her children’s book was plagiarized from a foreign source. The controversy emerged during a Senate budget hearing for the Office of the Vice President, where Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the allocation of PHP 100 million for the book.
Hontiveros asked VP Sara for details about the book and the number of copies the government plans to purchase for PHP 10 million. VP Sara defended the project, arguing that the scrutiny was politically motivated. She explained that her name on the book is significant because it will be distributed to children, whose parents will see her name and possibly be influenced.
Senator Hontiveros expressed frustration over the intense focus on a PHP 10 million budget item, questioning why there was such a strong reaction to her inquiries about the book. She criticized the attitude towards her questions, emphasizing that her concern was simply to understand the nature of the expenditure.
In her official statement, VP Sara refuted the plagiarism claims, stating that the book’s story is based on her own experiences. She clarified that writing a story from personal experience does not involve copying others’ work. The book’s goal is to encourage children to enjoy reading and to inspire them to create their own stories.
“Mga kababayan, Napakadaling sumulat ng maikling kuwento batay sa sariling karanasan, hindi na kailangang mangopya pa. Ang proyekto ay para mahikayat ang mga bata na mahalin ang pagbabasa at sumulat ng sarili nilang kuwento,” she said.
VP Sara also highlighted that the real issue is not with the book itself but with the general lack of reading among the youth. She concluded her statement by announcing plans to write another book addressing the theme of treachery. “Hindi ang libro ang problema ng bayan kundi ang kahinaan sa pagbabasa ng ating kabataan,” she said.
Related Post: Hontiveros Comments on VP Duterte’s Book Isang Kaibigan