Article by:
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he had no regrets over his decision to reject oligarchs’ offer to fund his 2016 presidential campaign.
Duterte made the statement in his prerecorded Talk to the People, as he reiterated his stance to dismantle oligarchy.
“Sabi ko, itong mga oligarch (I said these oligarchs), it can never… Kaya ‘yung iba diyan, hindi ko tinanggap ‘yung election contribution ninyo, campaign funds (That’s why I did not accept their election contribution or campaign funds). I never regretted it or I do not regret it. Pagdating ng panahon, yari kayong lahat (When the time comes, you are all doomed),” he said.
Duterte also advised the Filipino voters to be careful in choosing the country’s next leaders, warning them against the election hopefuls who are tainted with corruption.
He cautioned the electorate against party-list groups that are in alliance with the communist movement and those “controlled” by the rich.
“Until the end of the day, on my last day, I would continue to criticize and say something about itong mga party-list at hindi lang ang left (these party-lists that are not just Left-leaning groups). Ito ay ginagamit ng mga mayaman, lahat ng mga may negosyante, either binili nila ‘yung party-list or nag-create sila (The rich who have a business are either buying them or creating a party-list) because they can do it with the money and that has become a problem,” he said.
This, as he confirmed that party-list groups Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and Gabriela, or the so-called “KABAG,” are working with the communist movement to topple the government.
Duterte told his fellow Filipinos not to vote for the “KABAG” party-list groups that are seeking reelection in the May 9 polls.
“Fractured na tayo (We’re already fractured), it’s a fractured constitution. Biro mo (Imagine), who allowed itong ganitong (such) party-lists)?” he said. “Iyong mali nila, ang malaking –pinakamalaking krimen, iyan ito sinusuportahan ng mga party-list… Huwag ninyong iboto 'yan kaya kung iboto ninyo ‘yang party-list (That’s their mistake – it’s the biggest crime for the the party-lists to support [the communists]… Don’t vote those party-lists).”
In October 2021, Duterte said his ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), did not receive any financial support from the oligarchs.
He made the remarks, as he claimed that the mainstream political parties, including the opposition Liberal Party, were “funded by oligarchs.”
Also in March last year, Duterte said he was able to “dismantle the oligarchs ‘controlling’ the government.” (PNA)
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