DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 January)—Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to recall what happened to his family in 1986, referring to the first People Power Revolution that led to the ouster of Marcos Sr. from the presidency.
Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte speaks during the prayer rally against charter change in Davao City on Sunday (28 January 2024). MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
Duterte said this during the Candlelight Prayer Rally along San Pedro Street in downtown Davao City on Sunday. The prayer rally was held shortly after the Hakbang ng Maisug campaign at the Grand Men Seng Hotel where he took a swipe at Marcos Jr. by calling for his resignation.
“Just a simple message sa atong Pangulo (for our President): from now on, before you go to bed, think of the Romanovs, think of Benito Mussolini and his wife, think of what happened to you in 1986. Maybe you will reconsider the direction that you are taking,” Duterte said during his 12-minute speech at the prayer rally.
The mayor, son of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, vented his anger after learning that allies of the First Family were allegedly behind the nationwide movement on people’s initiative to change the Constitution.
Duterte said Marcos Jr. might reconsider the course his administration is taking if he recalls the 1986 uprising of the Filipino people.
He urged Dabawenyos to oppose the people’s initiative, saying that it is the politicians’ “hunger for power” that drives some of them to amend the 1987 Constitution so that they will stay in power.
“Sobra naman gud kaayo ang ginahimo ana nila pareho anang sa people’s initiative nila. Power tripping mana (What they are doing is too much, like the people’s initiative. It is power tripping) through the use of money, influence, power that they have because they are seated in the highest position,” Duterte said.
He told politicians that having been elected to public office is “privilege and opportunity” to work for the betterment of the country and that they should not think of staying in power.
Duterte said he was disappointed with former allies in Congress for turning their backs on the former President.
The younger Duterte added that he was also dismayed by the efforts in Congress calling on the Philippine government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the investigation of alleged extrajudicial killings during the term of former President Duterte.
The mayor said they want to see his father in jail.
A supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte shows her small placard telling the International Criminal Court to stop meddling in domestic affairs. MindaNews photo
“Regarding the ICC, I want to bring this up here: remember that it was my father who allowed the burial of your father [at the Libingan ng mga Bayani]. I hope you will remember that, but you never did. I have lost my respect for you,” he said in Cebuano.
Omar Duterte, the eldest son of Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte (1st Dist., Davao City) who is also Barangay Buhangin chairman, said in an interview that around 1,000 of his constituents joined Sunday’s prayer rally.
He said Filipinos should oppose the people’s initiative because it was initiated by the “figure heads” and not really by the people.
In his barangay, he said he received complaints that there were people convincing his constituents to sign the petition for people’s initiative in exchange of a P3,000 “ayuda” (aid).
For his part, Rolando Pahuway, purok leader of Barangay Lapu-Lapu in Agdao District, admitted that he lacks knowledge about the people’s initiative on charter change but added he is willing to learn.
He said he had not been offered the “ayuda” but noted that it is not right for leaders to accept the money in exchange of their signature for the campaign to amend the Constitution.
Pahuway said he joined the rally to support Vice President Sara Duterte. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
