Duterte claims ‘dilawan’ working with communists possibly to disrupt Eleksyon 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday claimed that “dilawans” were tying up with two groups, including the communists, possibly to disrupt the upcoming national and local elections.

In an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte said he is “really afraid of” the information he received from the National Intelligence Committee supposedly about the “working relations” between the so-called “dilawans” and the communist rebels.

“There's a parang grouping of the communists, itong mga dilawan, pati itong mga --- may isa pa, mga — Well, of course itong komunista is already a terrorist organization. So mga dilawan, that's a... I forgot the other one,” he said.

(There’s a sort of grouping of the communists, the dilawans, and another group I forgot the name of. It includes the communists because they are already a terrorist organization.)

Duterte said the government is now looking at this possibility as it may result in a disruption of the May 9 polls.

“They are watching for that kind of situation. They might be... Iyon ang sinabi ko na pwedeng manggulo kasi they have these working relations now with the dilawan (I said that can cause trouble because they have these working relations now with the dilawans) and the election is the objective really,” he added.

Asked if he thinks the elections will be clean and honest, Duterte said “I cannot guarantee you that it will be peaceful. There will be one or two or three, and even dito sa Mindanao.”

“I mean, even the warring factions diyan sa Cotabato. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila [I told them], ‘I will not allow terrorism sa election. I will not allow violence. Kampanya lang kayo [just campaign],’” he recalled.

Duterte then warned against “warlords” in elections, saying that he will personally visit them in their houses.

“And I'm repeating this warning this election. Wala akong... May kinakampihan ako. I’m a politician, I could not have been President without the --- pero without politics. Pero iyong mga magsabi mag-warlord-warlord, ah wala na talaga kasi pupuntahan ko talaga kayo. Maniwala kayo, pupuntahan ko kayo,” he said.

(I don't take sides. I’m a politician, I could not have been President without the --- but without politics. I’m going to see the warlords. Believe me, I will come for you.)

“Kung sa araw ng eleksyon, tambayan ko kayo. Doon ako mag-istambay sa bahay mo. Dito lang ako sa sala mo hanggang mata,” he added.

(On election day, I will hang out at your house. I will stay in your living room.)

Duterte earlier said he would not endorse any candidate for president despite his daughter Sara running for the vice presidency in tandem with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Non-stop red-tagging

Meanwhile, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo denounced red-tagging efforts as she belied supposed text messages quoting her praising Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.

In a Sunday post on her official Facebook account, Robredo belied claims that she will form a coalition government with the CPP, the New People’s Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF).

“Andami daw nakatanggap nito kagabi. Tapos non-stop ang red-tagging sa akin at sa ating volunteers. May paandar pang bubuo daw ako ng coalition government kasama ang CPP-NPA-NDF. Para klaro: kasinungalingan ito,” she said.

“Once and for all: Kaliwa, kanan, taas, baba, lahat handa tayong pakinggan — basta tapat, mapayapa, at handang magtrabaho para iangat ang buhay ng Pilipino,” she added.

(A lot of people received this last night. There has been non-stop red-tagging on me and our volunteers. There have also been claims that I will form a coalition government with the CPP-NPA-NDF. To make this clear: these are lies.

Once and for all: left, right, up, down, we are ready to listen to all — as long as they are honest, peaceful, and ready to lift the lives of Filipinos.)

In her post, Robredo said that those who truly know her know that she does not believe in violence to solve problems and that she does not believe in picking up arms to push self-interests.

Robredo also clarified that she will not ally herself with such individuals, and her priority is to work peacefully for the dignity of all, the empowered and responsible exercise of freedoms, and fairness.

“Alam ‘yan ng lahat ng katrabaho ko, kasama na ang mga nasa uniformed services, na mukhang sila ang tinatarget ng mga ganitong disinformation at propaganda. Kaya pwede ba,” she said.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno's campaign manager, Lito Banayo, said he was not in the position to question Duterte's allegations.

“The President has intelligence information that ordinary mortals like me have no access to. I am not in any position to question his statement about working relations with the left by the so-called dilawans,” Banayo told the GMA News Online.

Other presidential candidates have yet to give their comments regarding Duterte’s statement.

False flag operations

In response to Duterte’s claim, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chief information officer Marco Valbuena called on the public to remain vigilant and guard against “Duterte’s false flag operations.”

“Duterte’s statements are a reflection of political panic and the growing fear that he might not be able to steal the elections without inciting widespread protests,” Valbuena said in a statement.

“Duterte is rushing to build the scenario of ‘election disruption’ in the face of the increasing political isolation of the ruling regime and growing mass movement against the Marcos-Duterte tandem. The growing anti-Duterte and anti-Marcos movement is developing around the election campaign of leading oppositionists Leni Robredo and Francis Pangilinan,” he added.

Valbuena further stressed that any plans to disrupt the upcoming elections might be coming from Duterte himself. He said the President’s “vague words” may even indicate plans to carry out possible violent attacks, with the blame to be directed at the CPP and New People's Army (NPA).

This then would lead to the mass arrest of their members or a declaration of martial law.

“Duterte is now singing a tune from the Marcos songbook. His statements echo warnings and scenario-building of Ferdinand Marcos made fifty years ago prior to the declaration of martial law,” he said.

“Any plan to disrupt the elections through violent acts will most likely be the handiwork of Duterte himself, who is not a stranger to bloody tactics as evidenced by the drug war killings, the bombing of Marawi, the aerial bombing drive, and cold-blooded murder of revolutionaries and activists,” he added. — DVM, GMA News