DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 January)—Former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, once an ally of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said that he could not remain silent amid the alleged bribery in exchange for signatures for the people’s initiative for constitutional change.
Former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez at the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
“Napakahirap tumahimik o manahimik, sapagkat ang nilalapastangan ay ang Saligang Batas
(It is not easy to be silent or to remain silent because it’s the Constitution that is being disrespected here),” Rodriguez said in a speech Sunday afternoon during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum here.
“Let us not be blinded by little or big money in exchange of our signatures,” he added.
Rodriguez emphasized that the Constitution is “again being challenged,” which tends to break a supposed “unity” in the government.
He said he found it important to be present in the Davao rally opposing the move to amend the Constitution because he felt responsible for “urging others to vote for his own candidate.”
Rodriguez was Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson during the 2022 presidential campaign.
Rodriguez said that it is possible that there are “forces” within the current government who are thinking only of their own interests.
“Hindi ba noong tayo ay nagbuklod-buklod, nagsama-sama, ang ating tema ay ‘unity’? Ang cha-cha ba, ang paglustay ng pera ng kaban ng bansa, iyan ba ay magdudulot sa atin ng pagkakaisa o pagkakawatak-watak? (Do you remember, when we were together, our theme was ‘unity’? But will cha-cha [charter change], stealing money from government coffers, bring us unity or discord)” Rodriguez said.
He said he is in favor of amending the Constitution, but “people’s initiative is not the thing to do it.” (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
