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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Is President Rodrigo Duterte sincere when he promised “change is coming?”
The change people desire won’t happen unless the President himself stops political patronage, according to Elmer Floro, spokesperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay.
Duterte’s accommodation of the Marcoses was a sign of political patronage, said Floro.
He was referring to the President’s granting of the Marcos family’s wish to have the remains of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“The Duterte government is giving us dangerous signals. Thousands of Filipinos risked or lost their lives to oust Marcos but now we have a government that honors him. What happened to the promised change,” said Floro.
Political patronage must stop, he stressed, and warned that Duterte may end up a “trapo” (traditional politician).
“We know he allowed Marcos’ burial at the Libingan because he had to pay back the Marcoses who supported him in the recent presidential elections. He ignored the thousands of victims of Marcos’ atrocities,” said Floro.
Duterte said he allowed Marcos’ burial at the Libingan because the former president was a World War II soldier.
“He was there to fight for his country,” said Duterte.
On Nov. 8 voting 9-5, the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions blocking Marcos’ burial at the Libingan.
“We can’t leave the future of this country to just nine Supreme Court justices and one president,” said Floro./PN
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