Senator Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Elect candidates who can stand up against President Rodrigo Duterte’s “malevolent agendas,” Senator Leila de Lima urged the voting public.
In her message read during the “Miting de Avance ng Taumbayan” at the People Power Monument along Edsa on Friday, De Lima reiterated her call to vote for independent-minded candidates.
She said that one of the President’s political agendas after the midterm elections would be to “aggressively push” for a federal form of government or Charter change (Cha-cha).
De Lima pointed out that should the Senate be dominated by allies of Duterte the success of Cha-cha would be made easy.
“Kapag nagtagumpay ang Pederalismo ni Duterte, sya mismo ay tila may maitim na balak na manatili sa pwesto hanggang sampung taon sa ilalim ng tinatawag na ‘transition period’ na nakasaad sa panukalang Cha-cha,” her message read.
“Hindi natin ito papayagan! Ngayong Mayo 13, sabay-sabay tayong manindigan para sa karapatang pantao, kalayaan at demokrasya. Sa araw ding ito natin simulan ang paniningil. Let our vote be a protest vote against those who have looted their way to power,” she added.
De Lima, one of Duterte’s staunch critics, said that the President could have “the power to strengthen political dynasties, which has become more pronounced under his regime” if the country shifts into a federal form of government.
She added that the Duterte family “is the perfect poster family for political dynasties as it fields all three children as candidates for elective offices in Davao in the 2019 polls.”
“Our country is ruled by a handful of political families, close to just a hundred. For these dynasties, the government is a family enterprise and public service, a convenient way to hold on to political power,” the senator said.
De Lima, meanwhile, cited a study which showed that the number of powerful political families per position rose from 75 to 78 percent among district representatives; 70 to 81 percent among governors; 58 to 70 percent among mayors, from 2007-2016.
“Tandaan nating nasa interes ni Duterteng manatili sa kapangyarihan ang kanyang pamilya at mga kasabwat upang hindi sila masingil sa kanilang mga inutang na dugo, pagkakanulo sa ating soberanya at sa napakarami pang mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” she said.
With this, De Lima reminded Filipino voters to do their part “in saving democratic space for individuals who will genuinely serve the country and their countrymen.” (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)