Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday ordered the government’s security sector to take a “hardline” stance and show “no mercy” to criminals and terrorists.

Duterte made this statement in her meeting with national security agencies — Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

As the designated officer-in-charge (OIC) while President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is on a state visit, she discussed how to maintain peace and security in the country.

“Our policy against criminals and terrorists and those that support and espouse their ideologies of violence should be hardline. We should show no mercy to criminals and terrorists,” Duterte emphasized.

She said the Marcos administration’s national and economic aspirations to address social inequities and further propel the country’s progress post-pandemic could be “slowed down” due to motivating forces.

Duterte pointed out that the country will only truly “recover and build post-pandemic” and “meaningfully stand with honor and pride as a nation” if the security threats are successfully addressed.

On Sunday, Duterte was named as the OIC while Marcos is on his state visits to Indonesia and Singapore from Sept. 4 to 7.

As the OIC, she was directed to take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President, oversee the general administration of the Executive Department, and act for and on behalf of the President if necessary.