Re-elected Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte slammed the political group 1Sambayanan for allegedly protesting over the interim release appeal of former President Rodrigo Duterte and for warning countries who will receive the former president should his appeal be approved.
“First of all, a citizen of this Republic had been kidnapped by his fellow Filipinos, and never did we hear anything from this group nor did we hear anything from them when drug lords and NPA insurgents terrorized our fellow Filipino citizens. It is quite interesting now that these people would go to great lengths to warn states from receiving our very own president. May I remind 1Sambayanan that numerous countries have in fact lauded FPRRD in its crusade to combat crime in our country and I would not be surprised if many will express interest in receiving FPRRD in their respective country,” the lawmaker said in a statement issued on Monday evening.
Duterte pointed out that the international community “is not blind to what is happening in our country. There is no crime against humanity but a legitimate action of a man who actually had the balls to do what is necessary to save his country from illegal drugs and criminality.”
“Like any other member of the Makabayan bloc, 1Sambayanan is a group similarly funded by TAMBANGAG using taxpayers money to fuel his twisted dream that he can still be president in 2028,” he added.
Duterte emphasized that his father, FPRRD, is already weak and old, and his only dream right now is to return to the country and be with his family.
“He is no longer a threat to the presidency as he is already legally barred from doing so. Sadly, the very country that he served cannot accept him back because of its leaders who now disown him,” he said.
Duterte appealed to the Filipinos to continue to pray for FPRRD’s return to the Philippines.
“I appeal to my fellow Filipinos… let us continue to pray for FPRRD and that he may finally return to his country that he dearly loves and faithfully serves,” he said.
1Sambayan is among those groups calling the Senate to start Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
In an open letter to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the coalition’s conveners said the Senate should start revising the rules on impeachment as this would simplify and make the trial’s proceedings efficient.
