President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent expletives against his critics stemmed from several statements made against him, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque defended the president and said that long-standing criticisms from the opposition and even a popular musical theater song hinting a “revolution”, have collectively fueled negative sentiments from Duterte during his address to the nation on Sunday.
“Sunud-sunod ang pagtawag ni Sen. Drilon na failure ang IATF, sinusugan iyan ni VP Leni Robredo, kasabay nung kumakalat na revolution song,” Roque said.
[Sen. Drilon’s consecutive comments that the Inter-Agency Task Force is a failure, along with remarks from VP Leni Robredo, then this circulating revolution song.]
“Ang Presidente, sabi niya, kung iyon talagang mga nanggugulo…nais magsamantala sa pandemic na gusto siyang palitan through a revolution, sige na po gawin na natin ngayon,” he said.
[The President said that those who have been making threats…taking advantage of the pandemic by plotting to have him replaced through a revolution, then please let’s do it now.]
In a radio interview on Sunday, Roque made mention of the Filipino rendition of uprising anthem “Do You Hear the People Sing,” a song from West End musical Les Miserables, performed by artists and celebrities in previous anti-government protests.
“Next time, huwag ninyo ako parinig-rinigin ng revolution. Eh kung mag rebolusyon kayo, you will give me free ticket to stage a counterrevolution,” Duterte said Sunday.
[Next time, do not let me hear about revolution. If you mount one, you will give me a free ticket to stage a counterrevolution.]
Roque added that frontliners should have directly talked to the President instead of giving the media a chance to air the open letter, making him the last person to know about their demands.
Philippine College of Physicians Vice President Dr. Maricar Limpin said that they were just telling the government what is actually happening on ground.
