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| President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Antonio Trillanes / Composite photo from Thinking Pinoy |
Manila, Philippines – Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has once again criticized President Rodrigo Duterte over a statement that the Philippines would be better off with “a dictator in the likes of Marcos” than a leader like Vice President Leni Robredo.
Trillanes, in a statement, accused the president of “laying
the groundwork for an extra-constitutional takeover” and “trying to influence”
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by “romanticizing an autocratic
rule.”
“But it simply won’t work. The AFP knows right from wrong
and will never give in to that,” says Trillanes
Furthermore, the senator said that the chief executive is “demonizing”
Robredo because “because he knows that in any scenario wherein there is a
constitutional transition of power, he and his minions will surely be made
accountable for their actions.”
The president during the 49th Mandaue City Charter Day in
Cebu on Thursday said that it would be better for the country to be ruled by “a
dictator in the likes of Marcos” than to have a leader like Vice President Leni
Robredo.
“If I stop now my crusade against drugs and if there no
order in this place, Philippines and corruption will continue, we’re dead. I
said you’re better off with a dictator in the likes of Marcos. That is what I
suggested. You can have constitutional succession, it’s Robredo. But she cannot
hack it,” the chief executive said
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr, on the other hand, explained
that the remark of the president was his own personal belief.
“Well, maybe, that’s just the personal belief of the
President that almost anyone can be better than the Vice President,” Roque said
in press briefing
“With all due respect to the Vice President, that’s a
personal assessment made by the President,” he added.
