Press Release
April 2, 2020

Dispatch from Crame No. 761:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's statement on Duterte's latest threats

Sa loob ng tatlong taon, wala na tayong ibang narinig mula sa pangulong ito kung hindi gulo, barilan, patayan. Puro pananakot! Puro panggigipit! And now that we are confronted with a life-threatening crisis -- an existential threat indeed -- all he can offer is more VIOLENCE.

Who gave him the right to threaten and instill fear in the very people that he is owing his power from? Kung sabagay, hindi na nakakagulat ang ganitong asal mula kay Duterte. Nagawa nga niyang magpapatay ng libo-libong inosente sa ilalim ng kanyang palpak na giyera kontra droga.

Alam na nating wala tayong maasahang kongkretong plano mula sa kanya. Sinagot ba niya kung nasaan ang P275 billion? Baka balak gawing retirement fund ng Duterte and friends, hindi kaya? How many times has he addressed the nation sensibly in his late-night shows? None. Zero. Because there was nothing in his rambling speeches that indicated his genuine concern for the welfare of the Filipino people.

Pinapapili na lang ata tayo ni Duterte ng kung anong klaseng kamatayan ang gusto natin: (1) Mamatay sa COVID-19? (2) Mamatay sa gutom? (3) Ipapatay nya?

Duterte's message to the nation last night only exposed further his administration's inability to hold the nation together, and thus, his desperate attempt to cling to power under a reign of terror and fear. Are we just one hungry mob away from a Martial Law declaration?

But, we are not to bow down and be cowed into silence. Ngayon pa ba tayo mangingiming lumaban kung kailan buhay na natin at ng ating mga mahal sa buhay ang nasa peligro? Hindi tayo ang dapat matakot kay Duterte, siya ang dapat matakot sa atin.

"Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge the government."? It is obvious who is intimidated. Alam na natin kung sino ang takot sa sambayanang hindi na magpapaloko o magpapa-api kailanman.

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