Vice President Sara Duterte said that she warned her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, that he could meet the same fate as assassinated democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. if he insists on returning to the Philippines, a pronouncement that was slammed by Malacañang.
During a meet-and-greet event organized by Duterte supporters at the Het Malieveld Park in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, March 23, the Vice President shared that every time she visits, her father would ask her when she’ll be able to bring him home to the Philippines because he wanted to campaign for the coming elections as Davao City mayor.
“At ‘yon ang gusto niya, gusto niyang umuwi. Sinabi ko din sa kanya yon, ‘Pa, sabi ko ‘yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, iyan din ‘yung katapusan ng buhay mo, magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka,” she said while standing on a foldable chair.
Aquino, a former senator and staunch critic of the Marcos Sr. administration, returned to the Philippines in Aug. 1983 after three years of exile in the United States.
However, in a turn of events that will echo in history, Aquino was gunned down upon his arrival at the then Manila International Airport,, an event that was largely credited for sparking the EDSA revolt three years later.
“At sinabi niya sa akin, sabi nya, ‘Kung ganyan ang kapalaran ko, then so be it. Basta lang mauwi ako sa Pilipinas’,” Duterte said.
The Vice President admitted that she is worried for her father’s “safety and security”, but the former president, according to her, has kept on insisting, “Ibalik niyo ako sa Pilipinas.”
The Vice President then asked supporters to continue demanding from the Philippine government to bring her father home.
“Wag natin tigilan ang panawagan sa gobyerno natin sa Pilipinas at sa lahat ng gobyerno na nakikinig at dito sa ICC na ipaalam sa kanila na mali ang ginawa kay [dating] pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.
“Ituloy lang ‘yung kaso, walang problema, ibalik nyo lang siya,” she added.
She ended her speech by urging their supporters to remember what they were fighting for—the country.
The gathering reportedly brought some 2,000 Filipinos from different parts of Europe to The Hague, where they chanted, “Bring him home” and “I stand with Duterte.”
A large banner with the words “Bring PRRD Home (fist sign)” on a red ribbon hang behind the makeshift stage.
NO THREATS IN PH
Reacting to VP Duterte’s pronouncement, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there was no basis for the supposed threats to the former president’s life.
“Wala pong katotohanan ‘yan,” Castro said in a press briefing on Monday, March 24.
The Palace Press Officer wondered where the supposed threat came from.
“Saan kukuha ‘yung mga threats? As a matter of fact, hanggang ngayon yung sinasabing threats kay VP Sara hindi pa rin po naipapakita sa NBI at saka sa PNP,” she said.
“Kailangan po natin kasi ng mga materyales, ng mga ebidensya, bago po magsagawa ng ganitong mga klaseng statements,” she added.
According to Castro, former President Duterte should not be compared to the late senator Aquino as they had nothing alike, especially regarding the issues they were linked to.
“Napakalayo pong ipakumpara ang sarili o ikumpara ang dating pangulong Duterte, kay Ninoy Aquino na hindi nagkaroon ng anumang record ng mass murder or crimes against humanity,” she said.
Castro pointed out that Duterte had compared himself to the late dictator Adolf Hitler.
“Meron po siyang sinabi mismo, and I quote, ‘Hitler massacred 3 million — ‘ actually, it’s supposed to be 6 million Jews. ‘Now there is 3 million, what is it? 3 million drug addicts in the Philippines? There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have me,'” she recalled.
“Mas ninais po ni dating pangulong Duterte na ikumpara ang sarili n’ya kay Hitler,” she added. (Raymund Antonio, Argyll Geducos)
