With only less than a year before the 2022 presidential elections, young Filipino voters were urged to be cautious with political candidates making jokes regarding serious national issues.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. made the statement Tuesday, May 11, after President Duterte admitted that his campaign pledge to go to the West Philippine Sea on a jet ski was just a joke.
The President has also called “stupid” those people who believed his campaign promise.
“Lesson for young voters: Be wary of candidates making ‘jokes’ about serious issues such as national sovereignty, just so they can get elected,” Reyes said in a Twitter post.
“Mag-ingat sa mga swindler at manggagancho tuwing halalan (Beware of swindlers during elections,” he added.
Lesson for young voters: Be wary of candidates making "jokes" about serious issues such as national soveriegnty, just so they can get elected. Mag-ingat sa mga swindler at manggagancho tuwing halalan. #DuterteResign
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) May 10, 2021
In a debate during the 2016 presidential campaign, Duterte promised to ride a jet ski and go to a disputed island to plant a Philippine flag to assert the country’s claims.
Five years after he was elected as president, Duterte has yet to visit the island.
“Tinawag ni Duterte na tanga ang mga naniwala na mag-jetski sya sa Spratly's para itanim doon ang bandera ng Pilipinas (Duterte called stupid those who believed he would ride a jet ski to Spratly to plant the Philippine flag there),” Reyes said.
“Bale tinawag niyang tanga ang mga supporters nya, para lamang magpalusot sa kanyang kawalang aksyon at nakakasukang pagkatuta sa China (It seemed that he called his supporters stupid, just to make an excuse for his inaction and for being a puppet of China),” he added.
More than 16 million Filipinos elected President Duterte into office during the 2016 presidential elections.