Senatorial bet Gutoc to ‘DDS’: Join the 33rd People Power celebration
Supporters of tne Otso Diretso senatorial candidates gathered in front of the People Power Monument on Edsa on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, two days before the 33rd anniversary celebration of the People Power Revolution. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc on Saturday called on supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte to join the commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
According to Gutoc, who spoke on Saturday in front of crowds assembled near the People Power Monument at the corner Edsa and Whiteplains Avenue, the spirit of EDSA is for everyone, whether they belong to the opposition or the administration.
“Hoy, mga DDS, sumama na kayo dito sa People Power. Pilipino din kayo, tao din kayo, babae din kayo, may ina din kayo,” the Marawi civic leader said, in reference to supporters of Duterte who identified themselves as “Diehard Duterte Supporters,” or “DDS.”
[Hey, DDS, join People Power. You’re also Filipinos, humans, women, and you have mothers.]
The term DDS was derived from the “Davao Death Squad,” a supposed paramilitary group allegedly set up during Duterte’s time as Davao City mayor.
“Walanghiya naman kayo kung sasabihin niyo na hindi ito pang-DDS kaya hindi kayo sumasama. Isa-puso natin ang mensahe ng People Power: Walang maliit,” she added.
[It would be shameless of you to say that you won’t join because the event is not meant for the DDS. Let’s take to hear the message of People Power: Nobody is insignificant.]
Thirty-three years ago towards the end of February, organizations and individuals opposed to the regime of then-President Ferdinand Marcos moved to protect military troops inside Camp Aguinaldo who had broken away from the administration.
The peaceful revolution prevented Marcos from launching an attack on the rebel troops, led by Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos, who was then the Philippine Constabulary chief and concurrently vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile.
Aside from messages in relation to the People Power, Gutoc — a former member of the Bangsamoro Transition Committee who resigned her post after the President made rape jokes — also gave a message on the bloody war on drugs.
“Sa bawat namatay sa tokhang niyo, Presidente Duterte, sana hindi kayo magigising sa iyak ng isang ina na hindi mo man lang binista dahil namatay (ang anak) sa tokhang mo,” she quipped.
Part of the President’s campaign promise was the eradication of drugs. According to government data, since the President assumed office, more than 5,000 drug suspects have died during police operations.
However, opposition groups suggest that the true number may range from 11,000 to 30,000 deaths. /atm
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