De Lima: ‘Gangster-like’ antics of Duterte cannot protect PH from terrorists



Opposition senator Leila de Lima and President Rodrigo Duterte / compiled photo from Inquirer (ctto)



Manila, Philippines – Opposition senator Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the “gangster-like antics” of President Rodrigo Duterte do not seem to scare the extremists following the deadly bombings in a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu and a mosque in Zamboanga city.

“If, indeed, it was the terr0rists who did the b0mbings, it also proves one thing: That the gangster-like antics of Duterte cannot protect the people against terrorists and neither can he scare them away to curb their agenda,” De Lima said in a dispatched letter from Camp Crame in Quezon City.



“The first was Marawi, now Jolo and Zamboanga. His threats are nothing but empty words to real terrorists. To put it bluntly, he is mighty in words, but inept in action. What are our intelligence assets doing, or where are the funds to run the intelligence gathering?” she added



The detained senator also said that the president’s threats “are nothing but empty words.”

“His threats are nothing but empty words to real terrorists. To put it bluntly, he is mighty in words, but inept in action. What are our intelligence assets doing, or where are the funds to run the intelligence gathering?” she said

De Lima also questioned the President’s claims that it was suicide bombers who carried out the twin explosions in Jolo.

“I also do not understand why Duterte is making such hasty pronouncement that suicide bombers were behind the attacks without waiting for the results of official investigation and validation from experts. His statements achieve nothing but add more confusion and fear among the people. It is highly irresponsible, especially coming from the top official of the land.” She said

The senator said that she is seeing a “pattern” wherein the President “makes premature and specious statements often in too serious a situation.”



“He did this in the case of the seized magnetic lifters in Cavite which, based on PDEA’s investigation, were used to smuggle billions worth of shabu. At first, Duterte dismissed the agency’s initial findings as “pure speculation.”” she said

“In these bombings in Mindanao, is he again misleading the public and selling us the wrong story?”de Lima added

She also said that she supports the call for an investigation of the said attacks.

“Kaya sinusuportahan ko po ang panawagan sa isang hiwalay at malayang imbestigasyon sa nangyaring pambobomba sa Jolo at Zamboanga. Kailangang lumabas ang katotohanan. Maraming namatay at naulila at ang insidente ay nagdulot ng lubhang pangamba sa publiko,” the senator said


“Ayaw kong isipin na isa na namang palabas ito para linlangin tayo. Ngunit hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang gobyernong mahilig mag-imbento ng kuwento, mag-akusa ng kung sino-sino at ang bukambibig ay ‘Kill! Kill! Kill!’” she added.



Source: Leila De Lima


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