DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Nov. 25, expressed concern over the current status of the country and slammed the transfer of funds and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 's alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
DUTERTE
The former Chief Executive said the recent issue on Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and the Vice President’s assassination remarks on Marcos are all insignificant compared to the release of funds from various government agencies to another.
"I am more concerned about Atty. Zuleika as she might have suffered a heart attack. As to what happened, it's entirely insignificant. Let them file charges against her (Vice President). She won't end up in jail," Duterte said in a press conference.
"As of the PSG (Presidential Security Group), who wouldn't lose their temper in such situations? You know how Inday is – I have full faith in her. She is my daughter. I know her well. One thing is clear: The current administration's direction is heading towards us," he added.
Duterte said the transfer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Maharlika Fund, which includes the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Land Bank of the Philippines, and Development Bank of the Philippines, is a more pressing concern.
The former Chief Executive was referring to the transfer of P89.9 billion in excess PhilHealth fund to the National Treasury.
He said the administration also took P250 billion from the Maharlika Fund, of which P62.5 billion was transferred or released from the GSIS, SSS, LBP, and DBP to another.
Duterte questioned the transfer, emphasizing that it was people's money – government and private employees.
He said this is illegal according to the law. He also questioned where the proceeds from the 25 tons of gold reserves amounting to P129,314,015,967 went.
"Look at the funds you have taken. Where is it? At the very least, there must be a resolution and a corresponding bill explaining how Congress will utilize such funds. But in this case, how will this be accounted for? Only they know," Duterte said, presenting a list to the media.
He said the most severe problem that Filipinos should know is that the country is hemorrhaging.
Duterte said that PhilHealth is not for the government since this is a contribution from every employee who worked so hard to earn such benefits.
"The government malverses the money of the people. You used the money…Even the Congress could not do that. This government has no projects. You cannot even see any projects there. It's all maintenance," Duterte said.
Duterte said that there seems to be a silent martial law due to what is happening in the country. He said people have nowhere to turn to, citing Lopez’s transfer her to a correctional institution.
Rep. Paolo Duterte aired a version of what actually transpired during Vice President Duterte’s time at the House in a long Facebook post on Saturday night.
He shared a timeline of events, including the nine House staff members who went inside Lopez's room to move her to the Correctional Institution for Women, but Lopez refused to cooperate.
The elder Duterte said the prosecution would not be able to act on Lopez’s case if she will be placed under the correctional institution, especially with Malacañang involved.
Vice President Duterte earlier clarified that she did not want her remarks about assassination to be interpreted as a threat. She said she only criticized the House of Representatives' decision to transfer Lopez from the House detention center to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
“There is a fractured governance in the Philippines at the moment. Nobody can correct Marcos, nobody can correct (House Speaker Rep. Martin) Romualdez. It is a long process. If you want a redress of grievances, there is no urgent remedy,” the former Chief Executive said.
Duterte called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines to wake up. He said only the military has a say in what is going on.
He also urged the Commission on Audit to open and reveal their records, particularly on the Office of the President and the Office of the House Speaker.
"I meant to say that as (former) president, I saw the situation, and if the president faces so many errors, only the military can correct it. I only stated that the military is the one that can correct it. Until when are you going to support a drug addict president?" he said.
Marcos denied the drug addict accusations against him. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs’ motu proprio inquiry on an alleged leaked private documents that linked him to illegal drugs was questioned in May.
Thousands of supporters of Vice President Duterte, including government officials and employees in Davao City, held a candle-lighting and prayer rally on Saturday night to show their support for the Vice President and her protection amid the crisis she is facing.
The event, dubbed "We are not Filipinos for Nothing," was organized by the local political party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod established by former President Duterte. It started at 7 p.m. hours after Vice President Duterte and a few members of the House engaged in a heated argument.
Vice President Duterte’s supporters also lit candles and staged a vigil in front of Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. Her supporters prayed and hoped for a shift from the current political structure.