LP exec to Duterte: Opposition not out to grab power

The opposition is not out to grab power from the current administration, an official of the Liberal Party (LP) said on Friday.

Erin Tañada, Vice President for External Affairs of LP, said this amid a report that showed President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly accused the opposition of wanting to “come back” to leadership.

“We do not desire to grab power but to ensure that power is not misused or abused,” he said in a statement.

Tañada accused the President of “diverting” the public’s attention through such accusations whenever failures occur in the government.

“Whenever there’s a failure by this administration, it diverts attention and accuses the opposition of destabilization,” he said.

He also called Duterte’s reported allegation a “script” that’s already “worn-out.”

“Sa totoo lang, matagal nang kumita at sobrang gasgas na ang script na ito ng pamahalaan. Kapag sinisisi ang LP, ang sabihin lang nito ay may nais na namang itagong kapalpakan ang administrasyon,” Tañada said.

(To be honest, this script by the government has long been worn-out and used. When the LP is blamed, it just means it wants to conceal another failure of the administration.)

Instead of blaming the opposition, the LP executive advised Duterte to “spend its time and energy to address pressing problems of the country, like the high prices of goods and services.”

“Maraming mahalagang bagay ang dapat unahin ng gobyerno kaysa sayangin ang oras sa paninisi ng ibang tao,” Tañada said.

(There are many things that the government should prioritize instead of wasting time to blame other people.)   /vvp