Duterte tackles drugs, ICC, Lopezes ‘yellows’ in Aquino bailiwick Tarlac
By Arjay L. Balinbin
SHOWING yellow flowers to his audience in Tarlac province on Wednesday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said: “I mean no insult. This color, I hope after the elections… it’s over.”
Mr. Duterte was in Tarlac for the 145th founding anniversary and 2nd Kanlahi Festival of the province, widely known to be the bailiwick of the Aquinos.
The President did not mind asking the audience to accept the Ilocanos’ wish to consider the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos “as a hero.”
“Otherwise, half of Ilocandia, magdamdam ‘yan (will take offense), and it will continue to divide the country. So ‘yung (the) yellow, wala,” he said, and he threw away the yellow flowers he was holding.
He noted that the “only one” supporting him in Luzon is Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, the late dictator’s daughter who now serves as governor of Ilocos Norte and is considering a senatorial candidacy.
Mr. Duterte likewise talked anew about drugs, oligarchy, and other themes.
“Wealthy people, watch out, cocaine is coming in very fast. The cartel from Mexico and South America has come in, so we are dealing now with cocaine and shabu,” the President warned.
Despite the complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Duterte said his war against illegal drugs will not stop.
“Wala akong pakialam sa kanila…(I do not care about them),” he said, adding: “Hindi ko pinapapatay ‘yung mahirap, ang pinapatay kong mahirap, yung criminal (I do not order the killing of the poor. The poor ones that I ordered killed are criminals).”
“That ICC will never ever ever ever acquire jurisdiction over my person,” he stressed.
The President also mentioned former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog whom he had tagged as a narco-politician. “I have been looking for him. Hindi na siya umuwi kasi papatayin ko talaga siya (He has not returned home, because I will really kill him).”
Remembering the Philippines after the 1986 EDSA uprising, the President took swipe at the Lopez family.
“Remember the Lopez groups before, right after the EDSA. They borrowed about P7-8 billion from DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines).”
“Then they dissolved the corporations, ang utang nila (and their loans), so the GDP dived. It was condoned. And if that’s not economic sabotage, what is it?” he added.
He likewise warned the businessmen and local officials in Boracay, saying, “Don’t make it hard for me…It is our interest to preserve its pristine state, just like before.”
“They do not want to cooperate, and they begin to protest. I will arrest you all. If you put up a fight, I’ll arrest you for sedition, preventing the government for doing what is good for the Filipino people.”
The President said on Tuesday he would declare a state of calamity in Boracay, and he also cautioned the courts “not to interfere by issuing a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order).”
“[Y]ou would just exacerbate the situation; and, worse, I might not believe you,” he said.
As for his bank records, Mr. Duterte said he will allow the newly formed Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to look into his accounts.
“Kayo (PACC), anytime, I will give you the authority. Honestly. If it exceeds P40 million, kasali na ang (including my) inheritance ko noon, I will step down,” he said.
