The Palace has addressed Davao Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s condemnation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s supposed lack of gratitude and indebtedness to the former head of state, questioning whether Duterte’s father had been compelled to treason by the same sentiment.
“Dahil ba sa sinasabing ‘to ni Mayor Baste Duterte, na tanaw ng utang ng loob, ito po ba ‘yung ginamit kaya ng dating Pangulong Duterte noong i-appoint niya ang isang Chinese national na si Michael Yang bilang kanyang economic adviser? Hindi po ba ‘to pagtataksil?” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro argued at a press briefing on Monday.
(Is this indebtedness Mayor Baste Duterte speaks of the reason for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of one Chinese national, Michael Yang, as his economic adviser? Is this not treason?)
Castro refuted Duterte’s claim that Marcos is ungrateful, citing a 2016 statement from then-Senator Marcos thanking former President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing the interment of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“We also would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte, as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever be thankful for this kind gesture,” Castro read Marcos’ statement.
Castro stressed, however, that “utang na loob,” or indebtedness should not impede the enforcement of the law.
“Hindi po dapat mahinto ng utang na loob ang pagpapatupad ng batas. Hindi po dapat traydurin … ang pagpapatupad ng batas, ang pagpapatupad ng commitment with the INTERPOL,” she said.
“Hindi po dapat na dahil lang kaibigan o dahil naging kasama, hindi na po tutuparin ang batas at tatraidurin na po ang Konstitusyon, dahil lamang sa utang na loob,” she added.
(Indebtedness should not hinder the implementation of the law. We must not betray the enforcement of the law or our commitment to the INTERPOL. Friendship or companionship between two parties should not prevent the enforcement of the law or lead to betraying the Constitution on account of indebtedness.)
During the 88th “Araw ng Dabaw” celebration, Mayor Baste Duterte castigated President Marcos over the “illegal” arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. He called attention to the widely-opposed favor the latter had granted the incumbent state head and accused the current administration of “fantasizing” about the arrest.
