WHEN it comes to the issue of democracy, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) said it cannot be ruled out as such without opposition.
This is what the country’s former Chief Executive stated in his program Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa co-hosted by Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy on the 15th of November, following the surge of resignation among members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) wherein he serves as chairperson.
“No one is speaking against you all, and you all turned away. PDP [party?] no one is left there,” according to Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“Even if I am alone, even if I stand alone Whether the people liked it or not, in a democracy, there must be decent,” Duterte added.
“Without dissent, there is no democracy. If you are not allowed to disagree, there is no democracy, period,” Duterte said.
Besides being dishonest and unprincipled, Duterte pointed out that the fear of losing government projects was the main reason for the political members’ sudden shifting of political parties.
“Mayor, the ones from PDP under your party are gone, are they afraid of losing projects?” Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy said.
“Yes. They do not even have a project,” said Duterte.
“It is not really loyalty; it is just convenience. So, what you said about you cannot rule without principles, what you have now is a principle. Whether you have it or not, you have to stand on your values,” Pastor Apollo added.
“They’re just receiving a salary, so they’re like employees sitting there, unable to provide anything for the constituency [for example] in the first district. The mayor handles the schools, the congressman handles the schools, and the congressman handles our water [project], you can’t even ask for anything there… the one who controls it becomes the sole speaker,” Duterte stated.
“I understand; all of the PDP members, no one is left. Except for my son and I think Ungab because they are really from the same party who stayed, two or three. We had many PDP members before, especially when I became president,” the Former President added.
“Ah, everyone transferred to PDP; the PDP before didn’t have a single member left,” Duterte said.
“Sen. Pimentel, including me, there’s just a few of us, we did not even reach 100. When I became president, everyone transferred here, even the president. Many joined PDP,” Duterte said.
The former president also mentioned that as the former mayor of Davao City, he had his own projects and did not seek any projects from Congress.
“I enjoy it; no congressman gives me projects. My projects are only in the city where the mayor has projects, and the city has funds. So, I have my own. I never crave for any other project from Congress, and if they will give me one, well, Duresa is a very good congressman. Garcia was, is, well, he’s already deceased, was because he’s no longer,” Duterte said.
We are fortunate in Davao. The congressmen in our three districts are not corrupt.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, PDP-Laban’s Deputy Secretary General for Mindanao, previously stated that only 15 members of the party in the House of Representatives have stayed behind, down from 65 members at the start of the 19th Congress.
FPRRD expresses appreciation for Sen. Imee Marcos’ sincere friendship
Meanwhile, in the wake of the sudden mass resignation of lawmakers from PDP, FPPRD praised Senator Imee Marcos for standing up for him and for being a friend.
“When this issue broke out, she said, “I stand with Duterte.” Because she’s outside the mosquito net. Because she and her brother-in-law, even Romualdez, do not understand each other,” Duterte added.
“Mayor, she said “One good friend is worth more than a hundred relatives.” She said, you’re her good friend now,” Pastor Apollo stated.
“I appreciate [Sen.] Imee for, anyway, in the past, we worked together. Personally, it might be better; in the next election, I’ll be the only one from PDP. And I will make intelligent people run [for elections], Filipinos who are intelligent,” Duterte added.
“We are with you mayor,” Pastor Apollo stated.
“I will give… to all Filipinos listening now, if you accept, I will choose young individuals with principles,” said Duterte.
It can be remembered that former President Duterte, who currently serves as the chairperson of PDP-Laban, gave the order for the late former President Ferdinand R. Marcos Sr. to be buried in the revered Libingan ng mga Bayani or Heroes’ Cemetery in accordance with the Philippine Constitution.
