By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, have remained silent on whether they will attend President Marcos’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco announced that former Vice Presidents Leni Robredo and Jejomar Binay have officially sent their regrets, stating they will not be able to attend the SONA.
Former Vice President Noli de Castro has indicated his inability to attend but has not yet done so officially, according to the House Secretary General.
“Everything is okay. We’re just finalizing the seating arrangement,” Velasco told reporters covering the House of Representatives.
He added that over 2,000 guests have confirmed their attendance, making this SONA the largest so far. However, there are only 1,814 seats in the plenary.
Regarding security, the Presidential Security Command (PSC) is closely coordinating with the House Sergeant-at-Arms.
Rallies will be prohibited near the Batasan Complex. “They are not allowed to block Commonwealth Avenue,” Velasco said.
He added that rallies can be held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman or at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
Attendees will not be allowed to wear dresses with protest slogans. Velasco mentioned they will politely ask guests to change into proper attire, such as a barong or coat and tie.
While no threats have been received, the House Secretary-General emphasized that they “expect the worst but hope for the best.”
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Short of saying that his daughter is a liar, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has rebuffed Vice President Sara Duterte for announcing that he and his two sons — Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte — will be running for senator in 2025.
“Maniwala kayo kay Inday? I-jamming ka niyan nang husto… Saan ka nakakita, tatay dalawang anak magtakbo [sa Senado]… Wag kayong kumagat kay Inday kasi ‘yan si Inday kagaya ko rin ‘yan,” the Duterte patriarch quipped.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that it was only a bluff when VP Sara claimed that it’s Baste who’s gunning for the presidency in 2028.
“Si Inday pa rin ang tatakbo pagka-presidente sa 2028,” they chorused.
On Sunday (30 June 2024), Duterte told reporters in Tacloban City not to believe his daughter’s statement about his supposed political plans.
He admitted that it would be “bizarre” if he were to be in the Senate alongside Pulong and Baste.
“Anong gagawin namin sa Senate…Anong gagawin namin doon?” Duterte said.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — “Look who’s talking.”
This was the gist of the reactions of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre to the claim of feisty former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte that he was a victim of “political persecution.”
The Tacloban local chief executive, who is a cousin of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, said the Taclobanons would rather gather to celebrate the feast of Santo Niño than listen to the “blasphemous” protests led by Duterte.
“There are many religious people here. They know there will be cussing. They don’t want that,” Romualdez said.
It can be recalled that during the height of his popularity, Duterte cursed and called God “stupid” because of the biblical story about the creation of Adam and Eve.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre echoed Romualdez’s apprehension, saying there were more curses than prayers in previous rallies led by Duterte.
In an open letter addressed to Taclobanons, Duterte charged the Marcos administration with efforts to stop the holding of the Maisug rally, which was initially slated for May 25 at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Plaza.
“As part of the Marcos administration’s policy of stifling peaceful dissent, they are doing everything to prevent this rally from happening,” Duterte ranted.
Mayor Romualdez, husband of former sexy star Cristina Gonzales, is also a cousin of the President.
He denied Duterte’s allegations, saying the event was canceled due to the onslaught of Typhoon Aghon.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Adhering to the biblical adage that “the truth shall set us free,” Manila Sixth District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., a Bible Baptist pastor, has announced that the House Committee on Human Rights which he chairs will launch its investigation in aid of legislation on May 22 into the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) associated with the controversial war on drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Abante disclosed that the first hearing will include a diverse group of participants, such as relatives of drug war victims, police officers, and Cabinet officials from the Duterte administration.
“Ang tanong siguro ng iba, why are we conducting an inquiry into the deaths of alleged drug addicts or drug dealers? First, we must begin with the principle that each life is valuable and that each life lost is a profound tragedy. Second, we must point out that those who lost their lives, like every Filipino, are protected by the rights granted by the Constitution, one of which is due process,” Abante said.
He added that the investigation aims to “seek the truth” and gather “comprehensive information” on the alleged widespread human rights violations linked to the drug war, with the ultimate goal of developing legislation to strengthen human rights in the country.
“Alleged drug users and dealers po sila, ‘di po sila na-convict because these alleged EJK victims were silenced, they were denied their rights. Now, it is our responsibility to the victims of alleged [EJK] and their families to seek the truth,” Abante explained.
He clarified, however, that it is not the intention of the committee to pass judgment, a point seconded by panel vice-chairman Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
“It’s not the intention of the committee to prove whether the drug campaign in the previous administration was bogus or not,” Adiong stressed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Politics make strange bedfellows, as an adage goes.
And barely a year before the 2025 midterm polls, political analysts saw the battle lines are now drawn between those supporting the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in a “tactical alliance” with the pro-US political forces and nationalists against China’s “creeping invasion” against the backers of former President Rodrigo Duterte who has remained unabashedly pro-China.
Dr. Edna Co, a former dean at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, cited the Liberal Party (LP), a former ruling party that was in the traditional opposition role during the Duterte administration, can find many points of unity with the Marcos administration, Co said, including on foreign policy.
She noted that the LP and the Marcos Jr. administration are aligned on issues like sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Maharlika NuMedia gathered that in preparation for the 2025 elections, the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas has been launched, primarily composed of the President’s party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and his cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez’s ruling party, the Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Co said members of the traditional opposition, including the Liberal Party, could end up on the administration’s senatorial slate in 2025 if there are points of unity with the newly announced Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
For his part, De La Salle University (DLSU) political science professor Anthony Lawrence Borja called the new alliance “a case of coalition-building in a weak party system.”
He pointed out that PBBM and Romualdez seem to be “separating the promise of Political Unity from the UniTeam, giving it a coalition that transcends the Marcos-Duterte alliance.”
Recently, Duterte renamed his party PDP and dropped the word “Laban.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Just like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together, House leaders on Sunday (28 April 2024) aired suspicion that those behind the deepfake audio that mimicked the voice of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordering the use of military force against China could have “originated somewhere in the south of the country.”
It can be recalled that in a supposed prayer rally in Tagum City last April 14, former Speaker and now Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, a close ally of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support from their commander-in-chief Marcos Jr. ostensibly to prevent the escalating tension between China and the Philippines over the hotly contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“This bogus material (Deepfake audio may have) originated somewhere in the south of the country,” Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez of Quezon province said, without providing evidence or details.
In a statement, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga pointed out that the spread of the deepfake audio, which he called a “malicious dissemination of fabricated information,” was a national security concern.
Gonzales called on the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) and its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to investigate and that people behind the deepfake audio should be prosecuted.
For his part, Suarez said the above agencies should update the House of Representatives on the progress of their investigation into the audio and tap the private sector if necessary.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA – The late Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. must be turning in his grave as the feisty ex-president Rodrigo Duterte has renamed the party he founded during the dark years of dictatorship of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. by dropping the word “Laban” and by simply calling it PDP.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that the PDP could be the acronym for President Duterte’s Party, either referring to the former president or the anticipated presidency of Inday Sara Duterte in 2028.
No longer Partido ng Demoktatikong Pilipino, the political observers averred.
It was learned that the removal od the word “Laban” from the party’s name was one of the two constitutional amendments approved by party members during their meeting held in Cebu City last Friday (19 April 2024).
There was no immediate reaction from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as of this posting.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The cat is out of the bag, so to speak.
This is after former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte affirmed his love for China as he also expressed doubts that the United States will defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack in the South China Sea.
This developed as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Friday (12 April 2024) questioned Duterte as to what he compromised in the “secret agreement” he made with China.
“The first question that I have is clear so now, we need to know, what did you agree to? What did you compromise? Ano ‘yung pinamigay niyo? Bakit nagagalit sa atin ang mga kaibigan natin sa China dahil hindi kami sumusunod? Ano ‘yung dapat naming gawin? Ano ‘yung laman nu’ng secret agreement na ‘yan?” Marcos Jr. said.
But this time, FPRD could no longer conceal where his heart was.
“I love China more than the Americans, simply because I do not believe in their habit, and the habit of saying things and doing what they are doing now,” Duterte said in the article posted on April 12 in the Global Times, a Chinese state-funded English language newspaper.
The feisty ex-president also told Chinese journalists that the US is provoking the Philippine government to “find a quarrel and eventually maybe start a war.”
“So I am very sure of that – America is giving the instructions to the Philippine government to ‘not be afraid because we will back you up,’” Duterte said.
“But I do not think that America will die for us. And yet America has so many bases in the Philippines now,” he stressed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In what could be described as a proxy battle between those leaning towards the United States and those friendly to China, more adult Filipinos support President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is pro-US than the Duterte family and their political allies who are perceived to be “subservient” to the country whose coast guard and maritime militia are frequently incursing into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
On Monday (8 April 2024), Octa’s Tugon ng Masa survey revealed that 31% of adult Filipinos support the current PBBM administration while 20% still support the Duterte political dynasty and their allies.
Octa said the survey was conducted nationwide from March 11 to 14 with a margin of error of ±3%.
It added that there were 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 and above from Class AB, C, D, or E homes who were interviewed for the study.
Based on the survey, Marcos Jr. garnered the highest support from the National Capital Region at 43% and received the lowest support from Mindanao at 17%.
PBBM received the highest support from Class D at 32% and received the lowest support from Class ABC at 27%.
For the Duterte political dynasty and their allies, the highest support came from Mindanao at 53% while they received the lowest support from Balanced Luzon at 7%.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Only last month, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte accused his successor President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. of being a drug addict but now he’s denying he said it at all.
“Si Presidente? Wala akong sinabi na ganoon, even if you kill me a thousand times, wala akong sinabi. Taking a drug, pero kung sabihin mong adik, wala akong sinabi na ganoon,” he said in a press conference in Davao City.
It can be recalled that Duterte told a large crowd of supporters in Davao City last month: “Bongbong, bangag yan. May drug addict tayo na president.”
On Tuesday (27 February 2024), Duterte also refused to further discuss plans for the Mindanao independence movement, which he floated earlier.
“It has always been the dream of some people to be independent, pero if it causes a rupture in our entire system sa republika, I will not go for it. Meaning I will not go for a force carving…Mindanao out of the Philippines,” the feisty former president said.
He added: “I do not want my country dismembered. I do not want a part of my country taken away. I do not want my country to be disturbed physically even in the slightest. It goes for Luzon hanggang Jolo.”
But last month, after accusing President Marcos Jr. of being behind the people’s initiative signature campaign to change the Constitution, FPRRD pushed the idea of Mindanao seceding from the rest of the Philippines.
Duterte even claimed that there is currently a “regrouping of the political arena that is still in the works” that would lead to the campaign for Mindanao to separate from the rest of the country.
Political analyst Ronald Llamas tagged Duterte as the “biggest threat” to President Marcos Jr.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying it’s “silly,” former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has denied the accusation by a former landscaper Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy that he and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, once received firearms from the controversial televangelist.
Vice President Duterte, on the other hand, had dismissed the claim as mere “attacks” against her, possibly by those who want to be the next president of the country, apparently referring to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who heads the House of Representatives that stripped the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) of P650 million total of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in the proposed 2024 budget.
“Kami magtanggap ng baril kay Pastor Apollo Quiboloy? Ako pa mag-deliver sa kaniya ng kanyon bukas, o machine gun,” Duterte blurted out at a press conference in Davao City on Tuesday night, as reported by GMA-7 Unang Balita on Wednesday.
A certain “Rene” who claimed to be a former landscaper of Quiboloy testified before a Senate committee on February 19 that he once witnessed FPRRD and VP Sara receiving “bags of guns” from the controversial religious leader in Davao City.
“Bakit pa si Pastor ang magbigay ng baril sa akin? Saan siya magkuha? Kung magsabi siya wala siyang baril, bigyan ko siya,” the feisty former president said.
The Senate is now investigating Quiboloy and KOJC in aid of legislation for alleged sexual abuses and human trafficking activities.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
CEBU CITY — In what appeared to be a reconciliatory move by the Dutertes with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr whom they had maligned and asked to resign, the supposed prayer rally at the South Road Properties (SRP) in this city was snubbed not only by the Chief Executive but also by their invited “honorable guests” like Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
As a seemingly ominous sign, there was a heavy downpour of rain at the South Road Properties (SRP) forcing a few thousand participants to scamper and seek shelter under makeshift tents on Sunday (25 February 2024) and the program only started on 8 p.m. with only Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and Acting Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros attending from the invited Cebu officials.
Garcia and Quiboloy, reputedly the spiritual adviser and close friend of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, did not send their respective representative or even a video message to the supposed prayer rally against Charter change (Cha-Cha) and People’s Initiative (PI).
“Bigo, bigo. In short, it was a non-event. It was known for the absence of many things, of many people, including President Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte, Cebu officials, Governor Gwen Garcia, and many more… It was a flop,” Armand Dean Nocum commented in his vlog.
Vlogcaster Armand noted that the tirades against the President were noticeably mellowed down although Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said in Cebuano that the government is now in crisis and his impression was that PBBM could not control his cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
CEBU CITY — Saying that relaxing economic provisions to attract foreign investors is not enough excuse to change the 37-year-old Constitution, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Sunday (25 Feb 2024) said he sees the People’s Initiative (PI) campaign as an attempt by Congress to keep the administration in power.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared that amendments will be on “economic matters alone, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy — nothing more.”
Ironically, there were also attempts to push Cha-Cha in the guise of advancing federalism during the six-year term of Duterte.
The rally organized by the Cebu Coalition for Transparency, Accountability, Peace and Security (CCTAPS) coincided with the 38th anniversary of the first EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted the 20-year regime of PBBM’s late father Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr.(FEM).
Duterte had allowed the remains of FEM to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite protests from leftist groups and victims of abuses during the martial law period.
“I would support any changes in the Constitution that would enhance, improve and make the Filipinos happy,” Duterte said, adding that the six-year term of the President is enough.
However, FPRRD said that proposed changes to the 1987 charter should not be influenced by self-interest.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the frantic announcement of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque that ex-president Rodrigo Roa Duterte will be arrested anytime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday assured that it will not enforce the possible arrest warrant that will be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said they view the anticipated ICC arrest warrant as an interference with the sovereignty of the Philippines.
“Yes, because there is already a question of jurisdiction kasi ito ay sa tingin natin ay panghihimasok sa sovereignty ng ating bansa,” Fajardo said in a press conference.
Roque earlier disclosed that Duterte told him he received information that he may be arrested any time in connection with the ICC’s probe into his administration’s drug war.
Under Duterte’s drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records.
But human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.
In January this year, former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV revealed that a warrant of arrest is expected to be issued soon against Duterte and other respondents under ICC’s probe.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Without naming former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued warnings against moves that threaten the “territorial integrity” of the Philippines.
The DND and DOJ issued the warnings after Duterte revived the campaign for “a separate and independent Mindanao” kicked off, which Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said he is gathering signatures for.
“The mandate of the Department of National Defense is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of our national territory as enshrined in the Constitution,” Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said. “We will strictly enforce this mandate whether externally or internally.”
In a separate statement, the DOJ said it is “vehemently opposed” to calls for secession “of Mindanao or other parts of the country.”
It pointed out that secession is contrary to the principles of a democratic society as stated in the Constitution and called on Filipinos “to reject secessionist ideologies.”
Philippine National Police (PNP)chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the police forces are already looking into the matter.
“‘Yun ang tinitignan natin those who are talking about such interest of separating yun ang mino-monitor natin,” Acorda Jr. said.
The PNP chief, however, expressed confidence that the national police will oppose moves to separate Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines.
“These are all defined through our Constitution, yung territory natin, sovereignty natin. It’s not good na after all the sacrifices of our heroes and other kababayans and now that we are enjoying peace (that this comes up),” Acorda Jr. quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Without naming former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the instigator of the new secessionist movement in Mindanao, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has warned the public against supporting the campaign.
This developed as political science professor Dennis Coronacion on Saturday said the revival of talks of Mindanao independence is meant to show that Duterte and his allies still influence parts of the Philippines.
“Let us turn away from any call or movement that aims to destabilize our beloved nation, especially to separate Mindanao from the rest of the country,” Galvez said on Friday (02 Feb 2024).
Galvez once served as a military commander in what is now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Coronacion, however, said he believes any actual move to split the Philippines’ second-largest island from the republic will likely not prosper.
The chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) said that the talk of secession shows “how far [politicians] are willing to go just to serve their interest.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Coming from a former president, it was not a joke when former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called for the separation of Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines and he could be criminally charged with inciting to sedition.
This was the contention of former Akbayan party-list Representative Barry Gutierrez in reaction to Duterte’s rant against the administration and his daring call for “Mindanao independence.”
“Sinabi niya (Duterte) sa Isang public event. Hindi basta joke. Hindi basta madi-dismiss na joke yun kasi karamihan sa mga tao doon naniniwala na yun ang kanyang panawagan,” Gutierrez said in an interview with Facts First podcast hosted by former Inquirer reporter Christian Esguerra.
Gutierrez pointed out that Duterte is not an ordinary citizen being an ex-president who still wields some influence.
In a press conference late Tuesday night, Duterte bared that local political forces would be regrouping here to start a movement for a “separate and independent Mindanao.”
Duterte assured the Mindanao breakaway “won’t be a bloody one” because he said it would follow the processes established by the United Nations.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The days of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte are now numbered with the possible issuance of an international arrest.
This is the fearless forecast of political analyst Ronald Llamas in his interview with Richard Heydarian through the latter’s vlog on YouTube.
Llamas, who served as presidential political adviser of then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, expressed the belief that the former president would be arrested “sooner than later.”
“Historically, yung proseso na yan, mga seven to eight years … Nandun na tayo sa seven years. More or less, inaasahan na based on their timeline frame, mukhang hahampas yan sooner than later,” Llamas said.
Duterte is being charged before the International Criminal Court (ICC) with “crimes against humanity” due to the reported 30,000 victims of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the course of his campaign against illegal drugs.
Llamas also mentioned that the ICC already got hold of former Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Arthur “Arthur” Lascañas who said that Duterte, who served as mayor for more than 20 years, was behind the DDS in a 186-page affidavit submitted to the ICC.
He pointed out that the ICC will have to act fast since this is the first time that an Asian leader is being investigated by the ICC.
“First time na may Asian… kaya di sila pwede mag-dilly dally,” Llamas said.
He noted that the government will have no choice but to cooperate with the ICC.
“Pero pag-issue ng international warrant at yan ay i-implement probably by Interpol, hindi naman di pwedeng samahan yan ng gobyerno, di naman di pwedeng suportahan ng PNP,” Llamas said.
He also expressed apprehension of a chaotic situation if the government cannot effectively protect those who will serve an international arrest warrant on Duterte.
“Pag may nangyari sa implementing people na yan ay sirang-sira tayo sa international (community),” Llamas said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos expressed her profound support for the proposed discussion between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the investigation involving Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
“Now is the time! As I’ve mentioned, who’s afraid of SMNI? Or perhaps, who’s afraid of [former] President Duterte? He is a revered and beloved leader whose wise counsel will always be beneficial to the country,” remarked Senator Marcos.
“There’s nothing wrong with listening to good advice, especially when it comes from a former President,” the lady lawmaker added.
Earlier, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stated that President Marcos is always available to meet with Duterte.
“President Marcos is consistently available to former President Duterte. The President will contact him shortly to inquire about his interest in a meeting,” stated Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Believe it or not but former president Rodrigo “Digong/Rody” Roa Duterte who called God “stupid” and said 90 percent of Catholic priests are homosexuals or “gays” now attends Mass three (3) times every Sunday.
“On Sundays, I go to Mass. Three times. One in the morning, noontime mass, and in the evening,” Duterte quipped during a recent press conference in a Davao City hotel.
It can be recalled that in 2018, Duterte stirred controversy with his remark on the Biblical creation story and commented that God was “stupid” for allowing temptation to corrupt Adam and Eve.
He also criticized the Catholic observance of All Saints and All Souls’ Days, saying the saints were just drunkards and that the people could instead put a picture of “Santo Rodrigo” on their altars.
Much earlier, in 2015, Duterte said he had cursed out Pope Francis over the traffic that was caused by his visit to the Philippines.
“I am a very holy man. I’m a whole human being now,” Duterte claimed.
While president, Duterte clashed with the Catholic church leaders and human rights advocates over his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that the “360-degree transformation of Digong” was meant to impress the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators — if they are indeed in the country — that the ex-president is now a changed man.
The question is: Will the rebranded Duterte be able to convince the ICC?
(el Amigo/MNM)