Duterte: Military is only hope for fractured Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Describing the country as currently in a state of “hemorrhage” under the administration of President Marcos, former president Rodrigo Duterte pins hope on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to redeem the “fractured” state of the nation.

Duterte made the statement at a press briefing here on Monday after coming to the defense of the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, who was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives, which attempted to transfer her to the women’s correctional facility.

He claimed that the attempt to transfer Lopez showed that the people had nobody and nowhere to run to.

“You can’t go to the Supreme Court because it is a long process. You can’t trust the Congress because (Speaker Martin) Romualdez is under Marcos’ helm,” Duterte said.

He said everything is now up to the military if they want to continue serving a President who he alleges is “addicted to illegal substances.”

“How does the military protect the Constitution? By protecting a ‘drug addict’ President?” Duterte asked.

“If you want a redress of grievance, there is no urgent remedy. It is only the military who can correct it,” he added.

He stopped short of advocating for a military junta as he challenged the military to take a firm stand.

“That’s not coup d’état. They should just say ‘we don’t want to play your games,’” he clarified.

Duterte was also quick to point out that he is not into “people power.” He also distanced himself from loyalty checks within the AFP.

The former president added he will take his cue from the military on what they will eventually do.

“(AFP chief Gen. Romeo) Brawner is a non-reactive subject. If he insists that the country is stable, we can’t do anything about it,” Duterte added.

The former president likewise mentioned how the country’s funds are hemorrhaging.

“This government does not have any projects, just maintenance and aids. The government’s money is being distributed left and right by Romualdez,” he lamented.

The former president also alleged that the government put in danger the pensions of the workers in the private and government sectors, including the military, when they took funds from the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, funneling them into the Maharlika Investment Fund.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday agreed with her father’s “assumptions” that President Marcos is a drug addict because of his constant refusal to do a drug test and his “fractured governance” of the country.

“I have personal knowledge, I was a Cabinet member. I agree with the assumption that he’s a drug addict because he continuously refuses to do a drug test,” Duterte told reporters.

Sara renewed her challenge for Marcos and his allies in Congress to take a drug test.

“It’s so easy. You wanted me to undergo all these tests, including psychiatric tests. I’d be willing to do all that, no questions asked. Even if we do it today, let’s start the drug tests with the OVP. But all of you in the government, all the congressmen, should also undergo drug tests,” she said.

However, the Vice President did not agree with her father’s sentiments that only the military could correct the fractured governance in the country.

‘VP Sara can handle herself’

The former president is not worried about his daughter despite the threat to her life, legal woes and the congressional investigations she is facing.

“Inday can handle her security, she has her own security,” the former president told reporters.

Despite the removal of some of her security detail, the Vice President is still enjoying the protection of the Vice Presidential Security Group.

Asked if he got scared when the Vice President camped in the House of Representatives complex to stay with Lopez, he said, “I was entertained. Nothing happened to my daughter. She was not hurt.”

EDSA Shrine

EDSA Shrine rector Fr. Jerome Secillano said in a Facebook post that hundreds of people gathered at the EDSA Shrine beginning yesterday morning.

“As early as 6 a.m. today, Nov. 26, hundreds of people trooped to EDSA Shrine for reasons only known to them and for some, unknown to them,” Secillano said.

According to Sonshine Media Network International and dzBB, those who gathered outside the EDSA Shrine were supporters of the Vice President.

“Let us all pray that whatever may have caused this sudden surge in the number of shrine-goers be dealt with utmost sobriety and decency,” Secillano said.

Killing chickens

After admitting to having ordered the killings of alleged drug addicts during his appearance before the House quad committee, the former president backpedaled, saying he was referring to the killing of chickens.

“The killing of what? I’ve said in the House that I’ve killed chickens. I’ve ordered the killings of thousands of chickens,” Rodrigo told reporters in Davao City.

He added he was just telling the quad comm what they wanted to hear from him, claiming that the panel is composed of stupid people asking stupid questions. — Diana Lhyd Suelto, Neil Jayson Servallos, Evelyn Macairan, Michael Punongbayan, Mark Ernest Villeza