PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, that police and military may shoot troublemakers dead, while an anti-corruption official wanted an investigation on Vice President Leni Robredo for allegedly undermining government’s effort, but the Vice President found the charges “ridiculous.”
“I will not hesitate. My orders are -- sa pulis, pati military, pati mga barangay -- na pagkaginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay malagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead,” the President said.
Duterte, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night, was visibly irked by reports about the protest staged by over 100 residents of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City Wednesday morning.
Duterte blamed the leftists for the “riot,” which led to the arrest of 20 people.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte later asked the Quezon City Police District to release the 20 people for humanitarian reasons. The President, however, said they would not be released to set an example to those who challenge the government, create public disturbance and incite riots.
“We are ready for you - gulo o barilan o patayan. I will not hesitate. My soldiers will shoot you. I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you,” the President said. “H’wag n’yo akong takutin ng gulo-gulo kasi kung gusto talaga ninyo ng gulo, guguluhin natin ang bayan natin, tutal wala pa namang pagkain,” he added.
He said the task of distributing cash and food assistance has been transferred from the “politicians” to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Under the government’s social amelioration program as approved by Congress, 18 million low-income families will receive between P5,000 and P8,000 monthly subsidy for two months to help them cope with the fallout from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.
Duterte ordered the DSWD to hasten the distribution of rice and other food items. “Ang pera, dadating. Ang pagkain dadating, huwag lang kayong magulo para smooth -- sa Bisaya pa, hapsay. Ayaw og hadloka ang gobyerno. Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge government. Matatalo kayo. Sigurado,” Duterte said in his appeal to Filipinos not to entertain doubts about dishonesty and corruption.
“Magtiis na lang kayo ng delayed delivery, pero dadating ‘yan at hindi ka magugutom. Hindi ka mamatay sa gutom,” he added.
He warned those involved in repacking relief goods and distributing cash to the people against dishonesty and corruption.
“H’wag ninyong kaltasan, h’wag ninyong kunan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Manuelito Luna of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) wanted the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate Vice President Robredo for “illegal solicitation” and undermining the efforts of the National Government in this time of national calamity.
“Being a part of the National Government, Robredo is barred from competing with the DOH (Department of Health), DSWD and OCD (Office of Civil Defense) / NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), or undermining their efforts, and from soliciting donations, in cash or in kind, from the taxpaying public, especially since funds have already been appropriated or set aside for relief assistance, disaster mitigation, rehabilitation,” Luna said in a statement.
However, Greco Belgica, another PACC commissioner, said PACC “is not asking anyone to investigate VP Leni Robredo.”
He said Luna’s statement is his personal opinion and not of PACC.
“This is not the time for politicking. We are not concerned with any personality. Our main concern is to make sure all the needy Filipinos get all the help they need the President promised,” Belgica said.
Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, found Luna’s call “ridiculous, so inappropriate, so out of touch, that I had to verify if it was really true. I am deeply disappointed that it was.”
Gutierrez said Robredo has done all she can to help the health workers, government institutions, and ordinary Filipinos overcome the challenges they have had to face due to the restrictions on travel, the shortage in supplies.(SunStar Philippines)