Is the country’s prized democracy in danger if communist-friendly Rodrigo Duterte wins the presidency?
Malacañang has raised concern about Duterte’s close association with the armed communist group after five abducted cops were recently released to the presidential candidate.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said freedom-loving citizens should be alarmed by a photo of the Davao City mayor with the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their flags, adding they must “think seriously” about a Duterte presidency.
“Freedom-loving citizens would find sufficient cause to be alarmed at the picture published in a major broadsheet where erstwhile captive PNP officers are shown wearing shirts with POW (Prisoner of War) printed thereon and being paraded by heavily armed NPA members in the company of Mayor Duterte, with the CPP, NPA and the NDF flags prominently displayed in the background,” Coloma said.
“This picture should lead us to think seriously and be concerned if this is the future for the Philippines which presidential candidate Duterte is offering to our people,” he added.
Last Monday, the communist rebels released five cops on supposed humanitarian grounds after 10 days of captivity.
The captives were handed over to Durterte, who reportedly facilitated the release.
The cops were abducted by the rebels last April 16 in Paquibato town where a military post was attacked.
Duterte earlier reportedly declared that he would be first first left-leaning president if he wins the May 9 elections.
Duterte however made clear he is not a member of the communist group, saying he is still for democracy.
IMHO citizens should be more concerned about the fact that this isn’t really a democracy. Politics are controlled by a few very rich and very powerful families, whilst the economy is controlled by a few very rich very powerful families. Is it any surprise that there is rampant corruption and criminality when the “rulers” are only interested in serving their own needs, rather than serving the country?
E ano gusto mo pre communism na pati religion bawal. Magisip kang mabuti pre, mas ok na ganito at least we have religious freedom. Nasa peligro kalayaan natin, hindi uuwi si joma sison kung walang dahilan, leftist si duterte at tuta ng china para tuluyan makuha ang spartlys, sabi nga ni duterte isusuko nya spratlys kapalit ano? Mga railway systems lang pre, ibig sabihin pro china siya ,and hindi malayo matulad tyo sa mapaniil na communism.
Gratch,
As a metic, I can’t vote, nor was I advocating anyone to vote for a particular candidate. I was making the observation that it is somewhat fatuous of the palace to issue a warning about democracy being at risk under Duterte when, in fact, the Philippines is governed by a few very powerful and very rich families. when we go lower down the political food chain, we see the same names cropping as Governors, Mayors, Councillors, Representatives etc. This is not democracy, this is serving their own interests. The parties are being very incestuous about who gets to stand for election.
I don’t want communism, I am not a communist. I would welcome a ban on religion though, as it is one of the problems this country faces.
Regarding the Spratly Islands etc. It is because the past regimes have spent no money on the Armed forces (but after their supporting Marcos I can see why) and because of corruption in the armed forces that they are now so weak that they cannot defend this country’s borders. I am not a great fan of appeasement, but relying on other countries for your defence is not a good idea. The Philippines is supposed to be an independent country and not still a colony of the US.
The problem of the Spratly’s is a big one, because we shouldn’t have to be considering losing them, but because of the ineptitude of previous regimes, we can’t defend our borders.
TBH, I wouldn’t have wished the Spratly problem on my worst enemy. I’m not sure what any of the candidates would do if they were in power.
Well i agree with your observation with respect to parties having no solid platform resulting from adoption of multi party system, i prefer a two party or at most three party system were platforms of government are well defined. But with respect to banning religious freedom, i have to disagree as that is a fundamental part of humans, we are spiritual beings, i guess it is for the respective members of each denomination or sect to address their church elders or leaders if they feel they going out of bounds already. On the spratlys i think we have to accept the reality that we are weak militarily that is why we have to rely on stronger nations or form coalaitiom in the meantime. But we have to upgradebour forces to end reliance to other nation. Thanks
🙂