Don’t use military to threaten people, Robredo tells Duterte

Vice President Leni Robredo during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL.

MANILA, Philippines — Do not use the military to threaten Filipinos, Vice President Leni Robredo told President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday after the latter warned that military force would be used to ensure a peaceful 2022 elections.

“Ever since, ‘yung militar laging andyan para tumulong na hindi lang during the elections pero sa lahat ng oras na kinakailangan sila para ma-maintain ‘yung peace and order, nandyan sila,” Robredo said during the BISErbisyong LENI on DZXL.

(Ever since, the military is there to help not only during elections, but all the time when maintaining peace and order is necessary.)

Claiming that he wants a peaceful election, Duterte warned last Friday that if needed, military force would be used to ensure that the 2022 elections are peaceful, free and fair.

But this did not sit well with Robredo.

“Ang hindi ko lang alam kung bakit ganun ‘yung tone na parang ginagamit na tuloy ‘yung militar para takutin na kung hindi kayo susunod, ganitong gagawin,” she added, saying that the military was also used to threaten people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(I do not know why the tone seemed like the military is being used to threaten people who do not follow rules.)

Robredo said that the public should not fear the military as they are professionals and an ally.

“Kasi ‘yung militar, over the years, mga professionals ito. Mga professionals ito na over the years sinuman ‘yung pangulo basta kinakailangan ‘yung tulong nila, lagi sila andyan,” she noted.

“Pero sana ‘wag silang gagamitin para takutin ‘yung mamamayan kasi ‘yung militar kakampi natin ‘yan. Hindi naman sila kailangan katakutan kasi kakampi natin ‘yan sa lahat ng bagay,” the vice president explained.

(The military, over the years, are professionals who provide help whomever the president is. I hope they will not be used to threaten the public because they are our allies. They should not be feared as they are our ally in all things.)

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