TAGBILARAN, BOHOL, Philippines — Opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano dared President Rodrigo Duterte to just step down from his post if he can no longer handle the issues now hounding the country.
“Kung hindi na kaya ng Presidente ang maraming problema ng bansa na ‘di naman natin dine-demand na sagutin niya lahat, eh bumaba siya sa pwesto kung ‘di niya kaya, ‘wag nya tayo idamay lahat sa mainit niyang ulo,” the Magdalo party-list representative said in an interview here.
Alejano was reacting to the President’s threat to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, declare a revolutionary war and government, and arrest his critics, amid criticisms on his order to review all government contracts with private firms and foreign countries.
Senatorial bets Rep. Gary Alejano, Samira Gutoc, Romulo Macalintal and Chel Diokno attend a campaign rally in Tagbilaran, Bohol. Photo by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net
READ: Duterte twits Drilon, threatens to suspend writ of habeas corpus
The senatorial contender downplayed the President’s threats as a mere diversion from issues against his administration like the “onerous” loan agreement with China and the alleged involvement of his son, Paolo, to a drug syndicate.
“Ang problema kasi kay President ay pag merong issues ay tingin niya siya ay nababalikan ng issue ng pag-review ng mga loan agreements, ang issue na nadadawit ang pamilyang Duterte sa ilegal na droga. Dinadaan lamang sa pananakot at dina-divert yung attention ng taumbayan. Sagutin nila ng deretso ‘yan,” Alejano said.
He also expressed confidence that the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will stand pat on their earlier position that they will not support anything that violates the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc slammed the President’s threat as “reckless” and uncalled for.
“Instead of threatening… let’s resolve accountabilities from within the government na hindi pa naso-solve. Ang kalaban natin sa labas ‘yung umaagaw sa ating katubigan,” Gutoc said.
In a separate statement, Gutoc also opposed the suspension of habeas corpus and any violent means to control the people, especially during the election season.
“Mr. President, your war on drugs has been brutal, unjust and against the poor and powerless. You would not want to add dictatorship to the list of the injustices against the Filipino people whom you vowed to protect when you were still seeking their votes,” Gutoc asserted.
Opposition senatorial candidates Alejano, Gutoc, Romy Macalintal, and Chel Diokno are campaigning here in Bohol province. They are currently attending Vice President Leni Robredo’s “Ahon Laylayan” coalition launch in Poblacion 2, Tagbilaran City. /muf