Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening posed a question to the military on how long will they support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Duterte stressed that there is fractured governance in the country today and that only the military can correct it.
“Ito lang ang tanong ko sa military, hanggang kailan kayo mag-suporta ng drug addict na president? About 4 years? Ngayon kong magsabi, yes sir we are a bunch of loyalists. Critical diyan alam nila na durugista ang Presidente,” Duterte said in a press conference with the Davao media in Davao City on Monday.
Duterte said in this fractured governance wherein there is nobody that can correct President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Martin Romualdez but the military.
“Yan ang sinabi ko, there is a fractured governance, nabali na hindi lang na sprain. There is a fractured governance in the country. Nobody can correct Marcos, nobody can correct Romualdez, it’s a long process na papel sa Supreme court, unless you, matagalan yan. So, if you have a redress of grievance there is no urgent remedy. It is only the military who says, ang sabihin ko, president ako at nakita ko ang sitwasyon, kung ganon rin ang president na in the face of so many errors there, it’s only the military who can correct it,” he said.
Duterte underscored that the military including Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. is aware that the President is allegedly a drug addict.
“Kayo bang mga military pati pulis, would you still continue to support a drug addict? Tanungin nyo lang ang Presidential Security Command, puro military. You need not go far. Hanggang kailan kayo mag suporta ng drug addict na Presidente? Sabihin mo sa amin. Kasi nagpapatulong kami to get the answers sana because we cannot get a correct and accurate (answer). Barado kami ngayon so under the constitutional provision of the right to be heard, kailangan sagutin ninyo yan,” he said.
Duterte reminded the military that they are supposed to be the protector of the Constitution and the Filipino people.
“The right to be heard, the right to be informed, constitutional provision yan Mr. General sa military and the right for people to seek redress of grievance kayo lang ang makabigay niyan ngayon. The right to information and allow us to use it and we are seeking a redress of the grievance of the abuses of government. Mr. Military give us that right, the right to information that is true and correct, the right of redress of grievance, and the right to protect us,” he added.
“I’m challenging the whole of military kasi sila supposed to be the protector of the Constitution. Now tell me kung protector sila ng Constitution, are they willing to still protect the President who is a drug addict or another at kung sabihin nila, hindi nila alam, sabihin ko huwag na tayong magbolahan, alam ninyo yan noon, alam ninyo yan ngayon. Sabihin lang ninyo kay kung ganoon na lang, sabihin ko sa lahat ng mga bata dito sa Pilipinas, guys follow the President start smoking marijuana and using shabu,” Duterte also said.
Duterte said he is looking at a freewheeling discussion with the military particularly those in the lower ranks.
“Dito ako sa baba, might as well talk to the Lieutenant Colonels, Colonels, and Major. After I shall have talk to the military, pag punta ko ng Manila, I will be frank with them, ilantad ko yung baraha pero much more, sabihin ko ganito ang nagyari sa pera natin at gold reserve natin. Pero yung freewheeling discussion para hindi sabihin nila na naga plano ako ng kudeta, ayaw ko niyan,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the military has options without starting a coup d’état.
“One they just can sit there sa upuan nila, doon sa bukid at maglinis ng baril, magsabi lang sila na we are, hindi na sila magkudeta, sabihin lang nila na ayaw na namin ng laro ninyo. Out kami doon. Kasi kung walang military, eh wala na. Hindi yan kudeta, basta magsabi lang ang military, you are oppressing people and you are spending our money like water pati kami in the coming days mawalan kami ng aming retirement dahil nagalaw, hindi kami sasali sa iyo,” he said.
