Matapos paratangan ni Walden Bello ang kampo ni Vice President Sara Dutert bilang mastermind ng kaniyang pagkakaaresto sa kasong cyberlibel nitong Lunes, nag-iwan ng paalala ang education chief kaugnay sa iginigiit nitong freedom of speech and expression.
Isang pahayag ang inilabas ni Duterte ngayong Martes, Hulyo 9, kaugnay ng pagkakaaresto kay Bello, na nag-ugat sa reklamo ni dating Davao City information officer Jefry Tupas.
“When I was a child, my father gave me sound advice – never listen to attacks hurled against our family. And I took it to heart during my VP campaign. I never shared my spotlight with Walden Bello despite the offensives he launched against me,” saad ni Duterte matapos balikan din nito ang mga opensiba ni Bello noong kasagsagan ng kampanya.
“I was focused on drilling my education platform in all the rallies that I could muster. In fact, I have never filed a libel case in my life. Criticisms do not deserve even a backward glance because the accomplishments of Davao City under my leadership are already set in stone,” anang pangawalang pangulo.
Dagdag ni Duterte, “Instead of deflecting blame, playing the victim of an imaginary case of political persecution, and dragging me into his legal woes, I suggest that Mr. Bello be reminded of the fact that a civilized and democratic society does not respect hubris.”
Aniya pa, hindi maipagtatanggol ng “right to freedom of speech and expression” ang paninira sa reputasyon ng pangalan at imahe ng ninuman
Nauna nang sinabi ni Bello na isang “pure political harassment and persecution” ang kinahaharap na kaso.
“That he calls the charge against him ‘silly’ speaks volume of Mr. Bello’s character – it was clearly derision of and an insult to the Prosecutors and the time and effort they put in to uphold the rule of law,” dagdag ni Duterte.
“Mr. Bello -- supposedly a respected international educator and a human rights activist --- took it so low and displayed a disgraceful version of himself, making him the perfect poster boy of someone we hope our children will not become when they grow up.
“Mr. Bello should focus on salvaging what remains of his dignity and self-respect, I am asking him to stop obsessing over me – and stop blaming me for his fall from grace,” pagtatapos ng bise-presidente.
Basahin: Neri Colmenares, kinondena ang pagkaaresto kay Walden Bello – Balita – Tagalog Newspaper Tabloid
Nauna nang kinondena ng ilang kabaro ni Bello ang pagkakaaresto sa dating presidential candidate.
Nanawagan na rin si Ka Leody De Guzman para sa agad na pagpapalaya ng dating ka-tandem.
Wala pang tugon si Bello sa pahayag ni Duterte.