Left: No, Duterte, we won’t die for you

Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio. INQUIRER PHOTO

Left-leaning lawmakers on Wednesday rejected President Duterte’s claim that they were willing to die for him, saying their loyalty ultimately belonged to the people and not to the maverick leader.

“No, we are not ready to die for the President,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Makabayan bloc told a press briefing at the House of Representatives.

“We are ready to lay our lives for the people. Progressive organizations are based on clear principles. We said we will support this administration’s progressive and propeople policies, but we will oppose antipeople, proimperialist policies,” he said.

Progressive policies

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate dismissed Mr. Duterte’s remarks as “part of the hyperbole of the President.”

“He knows where we stand. We are for propeople and progressive policies and programs. We continue to call on him to stop…neoliberal policies and the alliance with Marcoses. That’s the stand of our alliance with the President,” he said.

The President, speaking at a business forum on Tuesday, said it was the “yellow” plotting his ouster, referring to the signature color of the Liberal Party. But he said the plot was doomed as the communist leadership and its allied groups had his back.

“But you will never hear it from the communists because I am the President belonging to the Left, actually. The Reds would never demand my ouster. They will die for me, believe me,” Mr. Duterte had said.

Track record

Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus noted that leftist and progressive groups took to the streets to protest and denounce some of Mr. Duterte’s decisions and policies, including huge mobilizations against the hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as well as the war on drugs.

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said: “Our track record will speak [for itself]. We serve the people.”

The Makabayan lawmakers, however, said disagreements over the Marcos burial and the administration’s refusal to release political prisoners were not enough to make them break away from the alliance.

Zarate and Tinio cited positive developments including the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the President’s pledge of an independent foreign policy.