PHOTO by KRISSY AGUILAR / INQUIRER.net
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Marawi civic leader and senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc said on Thursday the “yellow, DDS” issue is only divisive to Filipinos.
“Itong yellow, yellow at DDS issue, hindi yan issue. Pinagdi-divide yan tayo, [These yellow, yellow and DDS that is not the issue. It only divides us]” Gutoc said during the ceremonial adoption of Saguda Buayan Tribe at Brgy. Labangal, General Santos City.
Gutoc said the real enemy are those who steal the territory in Philippine waters and those policemen who kill innocent people.
“Ang kalaban natin itong umaagaw sa tubig ng Pilipinas. Ang kalaban natin, ang pumapatay na pulis. Ang kalaban natin yung kasamaan,” she said.
(The real enemy are those who grab the territory in the Philippine waters. Our real enemy are those policemen who kill. Our enemy is anything that is evil.)
“Bakit yung mga Pilipino ang nagaaway? Hindi ko maintindihan yellow versus DDS,” she added.
(Why Filipinos are fighting? I do not understand yellow versus DDS.)
“Yellow” is known to be associated with the Liberal Party (LP), while “DDS” is in reference to supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte who identified themselves as “Diehard Duterte Supporters.”
Gutoc is gunning for a Senate seat under the Otso Diretso senatorial slate, a coalition of opposition parties.
Otso Diretso is composed of Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, human-rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Senator Mar Roxas and former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada. /jpv
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