“It is a sad day for Philippine democracy.”

Ito ang bahagi ng pahayag si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte hinggil sa naunsyami nilang “Maisug Rally” sa Tacloban dahil umano sa pagpigil ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Sa isang mensaheng ipinadala ng kaniyang officer na si Jasmin Egan nitong Sabado, Mayo 25, humingi ng tawad si Duterte sa mga taga-Tacloban at sa lahat daw ng naabala sa hindi natuloy na kanilang “Maisug Rally.”

“I am writing this open letter to the people of Tacloban in the light of recent events that have brought inconvenience, discomfort and disruption in their lives. This is for all those whose flights have been cancelled, travel to the city have been restricted, normal activities disrupted by unscheduled power interruptions and obstruction in the use of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Plaza.

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“All these places and activities have one thing in common: the Maisug Rally scheduled on May 25, 2024. As part of the Marcos administration’s policy of stifling peaceful dissent, they are doing everything to prevent this rally from happening,” ani Duterte.

Binanggit din ng dating pangulo na hindi umano iyon ang unang pagkakataong pinigilan umano silang magsagawa ng rally.

“They succeeded in preventing the rally in Bulacan province, first in Malolos City and then in the town of Bustos. They failed to do that in Davao City, Cebu City, Tagum, Davao del Norte and Dumaguete City. Innocent government workers were either relieved or suspended as collateral damage to these rallies including Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. The message is clear: unless you do your part in thwarting these rallies, you pay dearly for it,” giit ni Duterte.

“If only I would be the only one who will be made to suffer, I would not hesitate to stop getting the message across to the people of Tacloban, and the rest of the country. All of you know that is not the case. Among other things, the economy will worsen, the peace and order situation will further deteriorate, and a war that does not concern us will break out anytime,” saad pa niya.

“Worse, the success of the plot to amend the Constitution to lift the term limits of the one sitting in Malacañang will ensure not only perpetuation of power of one family but the rape of democracy that this administration has unleashed on the nation. That I cannot allow to happen. I will continue to speak even if my own life is at stake. I do not like the way oppressed Filipinos are being treated now. They are oppressed and have no one to turn to.”

Ayon pa kay Duterte, naniniwala umano siyang napakahalaga ng “freedom of expression” lalo na raw ngayong wala na umanong “transparency,” “accountability,” “peace” at “security” sa bansa.

“I was City Mayor for 22 years and President for six years but I never, never ever prevented anyone from exercising his or her right to peacefully assemble. Freedom of expression is very important and even more so now when there is no transparency, accountability, peace and security in our country.”

“It is a sad day for Philippine democracy. On second thought, this is a challenge for us to prove that we deserve democracy and the rights that come with it. As someone once said, they have rights who dare defend them. It is in defense of those rights that we speak up and continue to speak up until those who seek to deprive us of them will get the message that we will not allow them to do so,” saad ni Duterte.

Kaugnay ng naunsyaming rally, humingi ng paumanhin si Duterte sa mga taga-Tacloban at sa mga Pilipinong naapektuhan at naabala raw nito.

“My apologies not only for indirectly being the cause of all the inconveniences heaped upon all of you by the forces of darkness that threaten not only our rights to express our grievances but the very existence of our nation. I apologize in advance for more of these because we will not be cowed into submission until we are allowed to freely speak once again,” ani Duterte.

“Again, my apologies to the people of Tacloban, and the entire Filipino nation for whatever inconvenience, difficulty and even suffering this may cause them. At the end of the day, it is not for my own benefit, but for every Filipino citizen,” dagdag pa niya.