President Rodrigo Duterte talks with Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, during his visit to Jolo in Sulu, a day after two successive explosions hit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. (Photo by CHRISTOPHER GO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday chided the military and the police for joining attempts to topple the government.
Duterte issued this remark before village officials in Pasay City on Monday as the country marked the 33rd Edsa People Power revolution that toppled the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.
“Ang sinabi ko lang itong sa military pati pulis, kayo rin kasi, may move power-power movement diyan ang mga… itong mga mayaman, mga… Eh ‘di ito silang… kita mo nga spokesman nila saan nakatira? Sa Forbes Park. Kuno,” he said in his speech at the 1st National Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas in Pasay.
[All I’m saying is that the military and the police have a power movement along with the rich. See where their spokesman lives? In Forbes Park.]
It was not clear which spokesman the President was referring to.
“Di ba ’yung crowd ni Roxas, ‘yan sila ang… mga elitista. Tapos ‘yan sila ang magpower-power movement. Tapos kung kayo naman military pati pulis, sumasali kayo. Tapos sabihin niyo: ‘O dito kami sa kampong ito,’” he added.
[Those in the crowd of Roxas are elitists and they’re the ones in the power movement. And you people in the military and the police join them. And then you say: “We’re backing this camp.”]
“And you have done that several times,” the President added.
“Kanino mo i-turn over ang gobyerno? Doon sa kalaban niya sa pulitika… Anak ng boss – you better stop it. Kung ganun ‘wag kayong makialam if that is your habit. What for?” he said. “Sabi ko kanila kung mag-kudeta kayo, mag-mutiny kayo, huwag mong isauli sa pulitiko. Isauli mo sa Pilipino,” he added.
[To whom do you turn over the government? To the political rivals. I told them, if you’re going to do a coup or a mutiny, don’t turn over the government to politicians. Give it back to Filipinos.]
The police and the military played a key role during the 1986 Edsa People Power uprising.
The President is a known ally of the Marcos family, even calling the late President Marcos as “best president ever.”
He was heavily criticized for allowing Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Nov. 18, 2016. /atm
READ: Duterte to voters: Remember People Power in May polls