Nobody believes Duterte will step down – ‘Genuine Minority’

Lawmakers from the so-called Genuine Minority pose for a photo after their briefing on Wednesday. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)

Members of the so-called “Genuine Minority” of the House of Representatives claim that the announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was thinking of stepping down from office is just another gimmick.

“We don’t think that he is serious about that,” Caloocan Rep. Edgardo Erice told reporters on Wednesday. “Mukhang huntahan lang naman ‘yon. Hindi [military] junta talaga.”

[It’s just idle talk. He’s not really intent of having a military junta.]

Erice made his comment in reference to the President’s remarks the day before that he would prefer a military junta to rule the country rather than allow the succession of Vice President Leni Robredo – because Naga, where she was born, was a “hotbed of shabu.”

READ: Duterte rejects Robredo as successor, says Naga a ‘hotbed of shabu’

“Maraming beses niya na pong sinabi ‘yong magre-resign siya. Pero ito po, it’s just one way of showing his disgust doon sa mga naipangako niya na hindi natutupad,” Erice said.

[He has said many times that he would resign. In this case, it’s just one way of showing his disgust that he wasn’t able to fulfill his promises.]

ACT Teachers Reps. France Castro and Antonio Tinio further cast doubt on Duterte’s intention, saying that it was just one of the President’s jokes.

“Parang bahagi na naman ito ng kanyang joke,” Castro said. “Nakikita natin ngayon na nasa gitna siya ngayon ng shaking na gobyerno.”

[It seems to be one of his jokes. What we see now is that he’s in the middle of a shaky government.]

On the other hand, Tinio poked fun at the President’s statement, which he had repeatedly broken. He also reminded the President of the consequences of his plan, in case it pushes through.

“Una, may naniniwala pa ba sa kanya? Pangalawa, hindi niya kailanman gagawin iyon, kasi the moment na mag-step down siya, mawawala iyong presidential immunity from suits,” Tinio said.

[First, does anyone really believe him? Second, he won’t ever really do it, because the moment he steps down, he loses his presidential immunity from suits.]

“Deretso siya sa kulungan. Hindi niya matatakasan ang kanyang katungkulan sa libo-libong pina-tokhang niya na maralita. That [resignation] will never happen,” he claimed.

[He will go straight to jail. He can’t escape his responsibility to the thousands of poor people he allowed to be killed. That resignation will never happen.]

Focus on issues

During the press briefing of the Genuine Minority – composed of lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc, the Liberal Party, Magdalo Party-list, Akbayan, and Anak Mindanao – Erice said that the President would be inconsistent if he would favor military men to rule over the country.

“May binanggit po siya [Duterte] na corruption sa military. It would be very inconsistent if military pa ang pipiliin nating mamuno sa ating bansa,” Erice said.

[He said something about corruption in the military. It would be very inconsistent if he would still choose the military as ruler of the country.]

According to Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, the real issue is not Duterte’s planned resignation but his reluctance to follow the law.

According to Section 8 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, a vice president will replace an incumbent president in case “of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President.”

“Parang pinahayag na rin niya na, kung maaari lang, sa kanya, hindi susundin ’yong constitutional process, dahil military ang pipili [ng susunod na lider]. So siguro ’yon ’yong mas magandang bigyan natin ng pansin,” Baguilat said.

[It’s like he he announced that, if possible, he would not follow the constitutional process to take over, because it’s the military who will choose the next leader. So maybe that’s what we should focus our attention.]

Strengthening his grip on power

Tinio also said that the President had already started moving to strengthen his grip on power by making alliances for subsequent elections.

“Malinaw naman na kumikilos na siya mismo, ang kanyang anak si Mayor Sara Duterte, na konsolidahin ang kanilang kapangyarihan – hindi lamang para sa 2019 elections, beyond, doon sa 2022 [elections],” he said.

[It‘s clear that he’s starting to make his moves, along with his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte, to consolidate his power – not only for the 2019 elections, but beyond – for the 2022 elections.]

“Ito ay para nga matiyak na patuloy na maprotektahan si Pangulong Duterte kahit di na siya presidente, at mapanatili ang kanilang kapit sa poder. Nakita natin ‘yan sa pagkakabuo ng Hugpong [ng Pagbabago – his daughter’s party], tapos pagbuo ng mga alliances with other national parties,” he added.

[This is to ensure that President Duterte will be protected even if he’s no longer president and that his group will continue to hold power. We saw that in the formation of Hugpong ng Pagbabago and in its forging alliances with national parties.] /atm

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