Updated (8:14 p.m.)
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said that President Rodrigo Duterte is the “real destabilizer.”
This is in response to the President’s earlier claims that the opposition is conniving to destabalize him.
READ: Duterte: Reds, Magdalo, political rivals plotting to oust me
“Sabi ni Presidente tayo daw ay mga destabilizers…ang totoo, ang presidente ang destabilizer (The president said we are destabilizers, but the truth is the President is the real destabilizer),” Hontiveros said during a democratic protest against the President at Plaza Miranda ahead of the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the country.
The opposition senator said Duterte is the one destabalizing the country.
“Dini-destabilize niya ang ating mga demokratikong institusyon, dini-destabilize niya ang ating ekonomiya, pati presyo ng bigas at iba pang mga bilihin. Dine-destabilize niya ang pagkakaisa na dapat buuin sa ating sambayan. Dine-destabilize niya ang kapaypaan, dine-destabalize niya ang pagtindig natin ng may respeto sa sarili kasa ng ibang mga bansa sa ating rehiyon at sa buong daigdig,” she said.
(He is destabilizing our democratic institutions, he is destabilizing our economy, including prices of rice and other commodities. He is destabilizing our unity, which our society badly needs today. He is destabilizing peace and the respect we have for ourselves and the respect of other nations for us.)
Hontiveros also challenged the president to “get over his illusion” on ouster plots against him and start “working for the country” amid the rising prices of basic commodities.
Church leaders, various social movements, trade union organizations, women’s groups, student councils, and sectoral formations gathered for the ‘Manindigan Para Sa Demokrasya’ to defend democracy from the current administration. /ee