Makabayan to Duterte: Stop the circus, face drug war victims

Stop the circus and face drug war victims.

This was the message of opposition lawmakers Raoul Manuel, Arlene Brosas and France Castro to former President Rodrigo Duterte, over his reported planned visit to Batasang Pambansa on Wednesday.

Duterte's former spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte will be going to the House to confront the Quad Committee (QuadComm) over the postponement of its hearing on the Duterte administration's drug war, even though Duterte’s camp was informed of the postponement on Monday, November 11.

Brosas, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela partylist congresswoman, said Duterte has no business disrupting the planned Mass for healing to be attended by the drug war victims, scheduled for 9 a.m. at the House.

“Malinaw po na wala siyang schedule dito. Wala pong naka-schedule na hearing. Ang naka-schedule lamang ay isang makabuluhang misa para sa mga biktima ng war on drugs. Tapos, gusto pang pumunta dito at talbugan ng Duterte itong magaganap na misa? Talagang agaw-eksena sa araw na dapat sana'y marinig ang boses ng mga biktima ng war on drugs,” Brosas said.

(It’s clear that he has nothing scheduled here tomorrow. There is no hearing. What is happening tomorrow is a Mass for the victims of the war on drugs. And he wants to come here and upstage the Mass? He wants to hog the spotlight when the day is dedicated to the victims of the war on drugs.)

'Circus'

“Malinaw na ginagawa lang na circus ni Duterte ang isang napakaseryosong imbestigasyon. Alam niya at formal siyang na-inform na walang hearing bukas, ngunit nagbabalak pa rin siyang pumunta para magpapansin at manggulo. Isa na namang publicity stunt ito mula sa dating pangulo. Harapin niya ang taumbayan. Harapin niya yung mga biktima,” Brosas added.

(It is evident that Duterte is making a circus out of a very serious investigation. He and his camp were officially informed that there is no public hearing on this tomorrow, and he is insisting on coming here just to cause chaos. This is just a publicity stunt. He should face the people, face the drug war victims.)

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers representative Castro agreed, saying that Duterte has always been big on showmanship.

“Well, ano ba itong ginagawa mo, Mr. Duterte? Nagba-bluff ka ba? Well, siyempre, sabi nga hindi ka namin uurungan, ano. Hindi tayo natatakot, at sawang-sawa na ang taong bayan sa mga drama mo,” Castro said.

(What are you doing, Mr. Duterte? Are you bluffing? Because we won’t back down, we are not afraid of you. And people are fed up with your drama.)

“Hindi na 'yan kinakagat ng taong bayan. Malinaw na sa taong bayan ngayon na dapat ay mananagot ka na sa mga nangyari nung panahon nung war on drugs,” Castro added.

(The public will not fall for it anymore. It is clear that he is liable for what happened during the war on drugs.)

Duterte 'the center' of drug war

Kabataan partylist representative Manuel, for his part, said Duterte must be reminded that he is not "the center of the universe."

“Pero kung merong bagay na siya ‘yung sentro, siya ang sentro ng madugong war on drugs. Kaya every time na merong formal invitation sa kanya, ‘yun yung dapat dumalo siya,” Manuel said.

(If there is anything he is the center of, it is the bloody war on drugs. That’s why every time he is invited to face a drug war probe, he should show up.)

“Siya nga mismo na dapat managot, siya pa itong may ganong ugali na mismo eh para bang taong bayan yung may kasalanan sa kanya. Siya ‘yung mga merong dapat sagutin ng mga tanong, lalo dun sa kanyang papel bilang yung pronouncements niya ay siyang pinagmulan ng mga ginawa ng pulis na pumatay para sa rewards na aabot hanggang milyones,” Manuel added.

(He should be the one held liable here, and yet he is acting as if it’s the people who sinned against him. He should answer a lot of questions, especially his pronouncements that he is the one who ordered the police to kill suspects in exchange of rewards costing millions.)

Manuel was referring to the testimony of retired Police Colonel Royina Garma, who said that Duterte implemented a nationwide Davao-model drug war policy that rewarded police officials per suspect killed.

Duterte has denied this, but also said that he has ordered the police to encourage suspects to resist arrest so they could be killed.

The QuadComm postponed its November 13 probe to November 21 amid ongoing vetting on the credibility of those who want to testify before the House mega panel. — BM, GMA Integrated News