Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, former executive secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Davao City is the first city that went head-on against the move to revise the constitution via the people’s initiative (PI).
“There is no such movement in any part of the country and Davao City is the first to initiate such a move which for me is despotic and graft-driven to amend the constitution via the PI. Davao City is the first and there is no other city or organization that would dare come head-on with their move to amend the constitution. Kaya andito ako dahil ako ay para sa Pilipino,” Rodriguez told Edge Davao during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum at the Grand Men Seng Hotel on Sunday.
Rodriguez confirmed his support as according to him, he is not for sale.
“Huwag magpapasilaw sa kaunting salapi para sa ating pirma. Our signatures, they are not for sale. I am in Davao City because just like the people in Davao City and the Dabawenyos, I am not for sale. I am for the Filipino people, I am for the respect for the constitution and yun ang aking loyalty sa PIlipinas at sa Pilipino,” he also said.
Rodriguez also reacted to the call of Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte during the forum for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign.
Duterte is the first mayor in the country who stepped up against the PI and challenged the President.
“Let’s put it in context. I think what he meant was you’re the President and easily you can put a stop to all these things that are happening that are divisive and causing so much division. Ang kailangan mo lang gawin step in and step up and tell these people na itigil nyo yan at hindi nakakatulong yan,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez revealed that amending the constitution or Charter Change (Cha-cha) was not on their agenda with the President during the campaign period in 2022.
“Ang lagi naman niyang sinasabi na hindi pa tayo tapos sa pandemic, not because there is no more alert level 1,2,3,4,5 meron pa rin and yung scar na iniwan ng pandemic sa atin malalim yun and Charter Change was not among those items that we’ve discussed extensively and thoroughly when we were planning,” he said.
Rodriguez also said that eventually when Marcos won amending the constitution was not on the agenda but were economic recovery, independent foreign policy, fighting graft and corruption, and getting the best and the brightest to serve the government.
“Yung sinasabi niya noong kampanya na pagdating sa ibang bansa dapat taas noo kahit kanino dahil ako ay Pilipino” he said.
Rodriguez feared there might be a constitutional crisis because the 24 Senators have already taken a firm and united stand that they are opposing any moves to amend the constitution via PI.
Meanwhile, former and current allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte showed support to the former president by joining the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum.
Their presence also manifested their opposition to the PI.
Aside from Rodriguez, other attendees were Davao del Norte First District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) anchors Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab, lawyer Glenn Chong, former presidential spokesperson lawyer Sal Panelo, former Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez, former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr.
Alvarez told media that his presence signified that he was supportive of the calls of Mindanao.
“Solidarity para sa mga taga Mindanao,” he said.
