BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas has called for a “peaceful dialogue” between Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a virtual press conference on Saturday, Duterte-Carpio said she had already instructed someone to kill the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House of Representative in the event that she gets killed.
“May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ako,” said Duterte-Carpio.
In a statement, Treñas said dialogue is essential for maintaining stability and ensuring that the nation’s focus remains on development.
He stressed the importance of leaders addressing conflicts constructively, stating that their foremost duty is to promote unity and cooperation to advance programs that will benefit the nation.
On Monday, President Marcos declared he won’t compromise the rule of law which should be applied to everyone.
“’Yang ganyang pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. ‘Yan ay aking papalagan. As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law,” President Marcos said in a video message.
He also promised not to let dirty politicking drag the country down.
“Igalang natin ang proseso. Tuparin natin ang batas. Alalahanin natin ang mandato na pinagkatiwala sa atin ng milyong-milyon na Pilipino,” the President said.
He reminded government officials of their duty to protect the country and the Constitution, stressing elected officials should not suppress the quest for truth.
Meanwhile, a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said Duterte-Carpio’s alleged assassination plan against Marcos and her use of profanity during an online press conference could be grounds for disbarment.
Atty. Domingo Egon Cayosa said such actions might constitute a violation of Canon 1 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, which mandates that a lawyer must uphold the Constitution, obey the law, and promote respect for legal processes.
“Kung ikaw ay mangongontrata ng isang tao o isang grupo na papatay kung may mangyari sa iyo, hindi naman ‘yan respect for law and legal processes. That is a very unethical legal conduct,” he said during a radio interview.
Cayosa emphasized that such behavior, if proven, reflects poorly on the legal profession and undermines the principles of justice and the rule of law.
For his part, Ramon Aguirre, political science professor, noted that Duterte may have attempted to emulate the tough-talking style of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, but she appears to have “miscalculated” the current political environment.
“I think she is trying to follow the lead of the father pero iba na ang conditions, hindi na nila dominated ang institutions,” Aguirre was quoted as saying, pointing out that the Duterte family no longer holds the same level of influence they once wielded.
Aguirre added that Vice President Duterte-Carpio’s recent statements, including her alleged assassination plan against the President and his family, reveal frustration over her inability to fully achieve her political objectives.
“Kaya lumabas na very frustrated si Sara kasi hindi niya nagagawa yung gusto niya,” he said, calling the move a significant “political blunder” that risks damaging her reputation and political standing further./PN
