Palace tells Hontiveros: Stop 'excessive politicking'

MALACAÑANG on Friday, September 21, slammed Senator Risa Hontiveros for branding President Rodrigo Duterte as "destabilizer-in-chief."

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Hontiveros should have a respite from "excessive politicking," especially now that the country is facing several pressing issues.

"It is ironic that Senator Risa Hontiveros, who spends so much of her time undermining the efforts of this administration, would refer to the President as 'destabilizer-in-chief,'" Roque said in a statement.

"During this challenging time when the nation must stand as one because of the tragedies that befell our farmers from Northern Luzon, the miners of Itogon, Benguet, to the residents of Naga, Cebu, what our people expect is a moratorium from excessive politicking from our elected leaders," he added.

Hontiveros, in a statement on Thursday, September 20, likened Duterte to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying the two were similar in destabilizing the country's economy, freedom, and government institutions.

The opposition senator's remark was in response to Duterte's repeated allegation of unified efforts by the opposition forces to topple his government.

"If President Duterte is looking for destabilizers, he has only to look into the mirror... The President is desperately linking the opposition to a so-called destabilization plot not admitting that he is actually the 'destabilizer-in-chief,'" Hontiveros said, a day before the 46th anniversary commemoration of martial law regime under Marcos's watch.

"Like his idol, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, President Duterte has destabilized the country's economy and the price of basic goods and commodities, he has destabilized our democracy and institutions of governance," she added.

Disputing Hontiveros's claim, Roque said the Chief Executive had made "significant strides" in fulfilling his campaign promises to curb illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption in government.

The Palace official also stressed that Duterte continues to enjoy "high public appreciation" because of his work performance.

"The President has made significant strides in his fight against drugs, criminality and corruption and there is high public appreciation and acceptance of his actions," he said.

"Many Filipinos agree that when there is peace and order, the economy thrives. Adult joblessness as well as crimes are decreasing," Duterte's mouthpiece added. (SunStar Philippines)

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