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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Not for the sane: Mindanaoans reject Duterte's secession plan, says Rodriguez

Not for the sane: Mindanaoans reject Duterte's secession plan, says Rodriguez

Published Feb 14, 2024 07:27 am

At A Glance

  • Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez says Mmndanaoans won't agree to a secession, even if former president Rodrigo Duterte is the one campaigning for it. 
  • Duterte, a former long-time Davao City mayor, served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022.

20240214_151532.jpgFormer president Rodrigo Duterte (left), Cagayan de Oro City 2nd Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Malacañang photo, Facebook)

Mindanaoans won't agree to a secession, even if former president Rodrigo Duterte is the one campaigning for it.

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez gave this sweeping statement Wednesday, Feb. 14, after he carried out consultations on his own regarding Duterte's proposal for a "separate and independent" Mindanao.

“Upon consultations with our barangay officials, business leaders and socio-civic leaders in Cagayan de Oro, they are against Mindanao secession from the Republic of the Philippines,” Rodriguez said.

“Why would our people here support the secession idea when it would result in retrogression rather than continuing progress? It’s like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. It’s suicidal.

"Sane people like us Mindanaonons and the rest of us Filipinos will not do that, even at the prodding of our former leaders,” he said.

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/12/adiong-don-t-use-mindanao-secession-as-a-political-slogan

Duterte, a former long-time Davao City mayor, served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022. Despite his eccentricities, he was a very popular chief executive.

But Rodriguez said Mindanao natives are drawing the line on the secession issue.

“Where will we get the funds to sustain our infrastructure, agricultural and economic development that is going on now under the administration of President BBM? Our island will certainly face an uncertain future. That’s not what we want for Mindanao,” he said.

“What we want for our people is a better, an improved life, not a situation worse than it is now, which is what will happen if this talk of separation prospers,” he stressed.

Earlier, Rodriguez urged urged former president Duterte and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to stop any talk about separating Mindanao from the rest of the country.

He made the appeal after President Marcos made it clear in a speech last Thursday that he would not allow any group to dismember the country.

Related Tags

Rufus Rodriguez Mindanao secession Rodrigo Duterte
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