‘Baste’s bashing of Marcos baseless, disrespectful’

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker David Suarez and other leaders of the House of Representatives yesterday lashed back at Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, saying his call for the resignation of President Marcos is uncalled for, baseless and, worse, disrespectful.

In a speech at the Hakbang ug Maisug Leaders Forum in Davao City on Sunday, Mayor Duterte – youngest son of former president Rodrigo Duterte – asked Marcos to step down from office, accusing him of being lazy and lacking compassion.

“That mention in Davao calling for his resignation I think is totally disrespectful of the man, given the position that he holds and… has no basis whatsoever,” Suarez said.

He noted that in the past two years, the Filipino people have seen the performance of the President, particularly in managing and revitalizing the economy as the country emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, Suarez said the activities of Marcos, showing his visits to various parts of the country to check on government projects or extend assistance to disaster victims, as well as his meetings with the Cabinet, show his dedication to serving the people.

“We have seen his commitment to the Filipino people,” Suarez said.

Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John Duavit said that while he respects everyone’s right to express his opinion, he does not share the Davao mayor’s views.

“Everybody’s got a right to an opinion, everybody’s got a right to express it. I’ll just express mine: I disagree, as simple as that,” he said.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. also said the reasons the younger Duterte raised in his call for the resignation of Marcos are not supported by facts.

“What I can say is that we have to respect the Office of the President. That’s why we’re wondering why President BBM is being asked to resign… there’s no basis,” he said.

Suarez reiterated that amid such accusations, the House remains unwavering in its support for President Marcos.

“It’s unequivocal,” he said.

The House unanimously adopted on Monday a resolution expressing its strong and unqualified support for the leadership of the President.

Gonzales added the mayor’s call can only mean one thing – he wants his elder sister Vice President Sara to take the reins of government.

‘Conflicted stance’

Meanwhile Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said he is stumped by the seemingly conflicted stance of former president Duterte on moves to amend the Constitution, noting that he based his entire presidential campaign platform on a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

The former president had earlier expressed opposition to the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution, even saying that he was satisfied with the country’s Charter in its current form.

Romualdez said this is tantamount to changing his tune about Charter amendments, saying he ran a presidential campaign that pushed for federalism as a new form of government which, unlike economic reform, is a complete overhaul of the government system.

‘Stop budol-budol’

Romualdez also advised the former president and his son the mayor to stop their “budol-budol stories” directed at his cousin, President Marcos.

Budol-budol is a scheme that employs deceitful tactics involving fraud and, according to many, even hypnosis.

According to Romualdez, the Dutertes’ claims of, among other things, drug use were nothing but “budol-budol stories from Davao.” He asked them to make public “any shred of proof and back up their allegations” against the President.

Otherwise, he said the two should stop their attacks.

“So unless you have proof in your allegations and calling for our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos to step down, better think it over and show us proof. We know you are not telling the truth,” he said during a party leaders’ caucus Sunday night.

The statement stemmed from the elder Duterte’s call for Marcos, whom Romualdez described as a “president with the highest mandate in Philippine history with more than 31 million votes,” to step down if he had no love and aspirations for the country.

The former president also accused Marcos of being in the narco-list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. — Michael Punongbayan