MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday slammed as an “unwelcome distraction” the recent remark made by President Rodrigo Duterte about former President Ferdinand Marcos.
In his speech Monday, Duterte asked the public to “look for another Marcos” as he admitted inability in stopping corruption in the country.
READ: Duterte asks public to ‘find another Marcos’
Hontiveros said the President should have instead focused on helping the 22 Filipino fishermen affected by the ramming incident at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea that involved a Chinese vessel.
“It is an unwelcome distraction at a time when the public needs strong leadership in asserting our sovereignty and in taking the side of our countrymen and women,” the senator said in a statement.
Hontiveros also lambasted Duterte’s “ramblings,” saying these are becoming “more incoherent, much like his policy towards China.”
“Another Marcos to solve corruption? Marcos was the paragon of corruption!” she said, noting that the Marcos family has amassed $5 to $10 Billion of ill-gotten wealth during their regime.
“The promise to end corruption may not be the only thing the President will fail to fulfill. Will he also fail in his constitutional duty to preserve our country’s territorial integrity?” she added.
The senator suggested that Duterte heed the call of the wife of the F/B GEM VER captain Junel Insigne, Lani, to personally come to Mindoro.
“It would do him and this country good to listen to the people directly affected by this incident. Especially after his alter-egos and he himself cast doubts on the truthfulness of our fishermen,” Hontiveros said. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)