Naglabas ng pahayag si Vice President Sara Duterte kaugnay sa umano’y mga nangyayari sa kasalukuyan na dapat umanong ikabahala ng mga Pilipinong nagtitiwala sa demokrasya.
Sa pahayag na inilabas ni VP Sara nitong Martes, Hunyo 2, sinita niya rin ang umano’y paggamit ng kapangyarihan upang patahimikin ang iilan.
“Ang mga natutunghayan natin ngayon ay dapat ikabahala ng bawat Pilipinong naniniwala sa demokrasya, anuman ang kanilang paniniwala o kulay sa pulitika,” panimula ni VP Sara.
Aniya, “Nakikita natin kung paano ginagamit ang mga institusyon ng gobyerno at ang pera ng taumbayan laban sa anumang oposisyon. Sa halip na tutukan ang mga tunay na suliraning kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayan, ginagamit ang kapangyarihan upang patahimikin ang mga boses ng mga hindi sumasang-ayon.”
“A democracy cannot survive when those in power see every critic as an enemy and every opposing voice as a threat,” dagdag pa niya.
Giit ng Pangalawang Pangulo, naniniwala siyang dapat na protektahan ang “independence” ng bawat institusyon sa Pilipinas.
“I have always believed that the independence of our institutions must be protected,” anang Pangalawang Pangulo.
Aniya pa, “This includes not only the Senate and the House of Representatives as institution, but every Senator and member of the house must be free to perform his or her constitutional duty according to conscience, free from threats, pressure, or any form of intimidation.”
“Good governance does not require the elimination of opposition. Democracy works best when there is a healthy opposition that is free to question. A government that fears dissent is not demonstrating strength. It is revealing insecurity. And that insecurity is reflected in the direction our country is taking today,” dagdag pa niya.
Inisa-isa pa ng bise presidente ang mga umano’y “disturbing realities” na mayroon ang bansa sa kasalukuyan.
“The current state of our nation reveals three disturbing realities: first, the effort to divert attention from legitimate questions surrounding the flood control controversy; second, the willingness to disregard constitutional safeguards in pursuit of a politically motivated impeachment; and third, the relentless pursuit of greater political power under the guise of Charter Change,” anang bise presidente.
“These are the symptoms of a government that has become more preoccupied with protecting power than serving the people. The Filipino people deserve a government focused on solving problems, not silencing critics; on strengthening institutions, not bending them to political ends; and on serving the nation, not perpetuating power,” giit pa niya.
“Democracy is not weakened by dissent. Democracy is weakened when those in power become afraid of it,” pagtatapos ni VP Sara.
