Former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan has called on the country’s leaders to show sobriety as the nation experiences turmoil brought about by the push for Charter change through a People’s Initiative (PI) campaign.
Honasan, also a former member of the Philippine Army special forces, said it is important for the country’s leaders to show political unity.
“I appeal to our leaders to show sobriety and the utmost level of patriotism and statesmanship for the sake of our children, who always look up to us as examples of political unity,” Honasan said in a statement.
“I have stood at the gates of the Presidential Palace in full combat gear many times in my life, both as a defender and attacker, driven by my conscience rather than an invitation or adventurism,” he pointed out.
“Pagmamahal sa Bayan at mga mamamayan ang palagi’t palaging nagtutulak sa akin bilang isang sundalo, bilang isang public servant, at bilang isang ordinaryong mamamayan (Love of country and for the people are the main reasons why I want to be a soldier, as a public srevant and as an ordinary citizen),” he added.
Honasan warned that the effects of a divided society, people, and armed forces are unacceptable to every Filipino, especially considering the current global situation that the nation must confront together as one people.
That is why, he said, he is calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte to take some time and set aside their differences for the good of the nation.
“Naniniwala ako na lahat tayo’y may kakayahang iwasan ang mga panganib ng digmaan o hidwaan at ang mga pinsalang dulot ng pagkakawatak-watak ng ating bansa (I believe that we all have the ability to avoid the dangers of war or conflict and the damages caused by the disintegration of our country),” he said.
“Mahal ko ang Pilipinas, mahal ko ang mga Pilipino, at hindi ako natatakot na isakripisyo ang aking buhay, gaya ng aking ginawa sa nakaraan. Titindigan ko ito kung ang nakararaming kabababayan natin ang patuloy na magdurusa sa gitna ng tensyong politikal sa pagitan ng tinitingnan pa naman nating mga national leaders (I love the Philippines, I love Filipinos, and I am not afraid to sacrifice my life, as I did in the past. I will stand by this if the majority of our countrymen will continue to suffer in the midst of political tension between what we still look up to as national leaders),” Honasan stressed.