Duterte: Military is only hope for fractured Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Describing the country as currently in a state of “hemorrhage” under the administration of President Marcos, former president Rodrigo Duterte pins hope on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to redeem the “fractured” state of the nation.

Duterte made the statement at a press briefing here on Monday after coming to the defense of the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, who was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives, which attempted to transfer her to the women’s correctional facility.

He claimed that the attempt to transfer Lopez showed that the people had nobody and nowhere to run to.

“You can’t go to the Supreme Court because it is a long process. You can’t trust the Congress because (Speaker Martin) Romualdez is under Marcos’ helm,” Duterte said.

He said everything is now up to the military if they want to continue serving a President who he alleges is “addicted to illegal substances.”

“How does the military protect the Constitution? By protecting a ‘drug addict’ President?” Duterte asked.

“If you want a redress of grievance, there is no urgent remedy. It is only the military who can correct it,” he added.

He stopped short of advocating for a military junta as he challenged the military to take a firm stand.

“That’s not coup d’état. They should just say ‘we don’t want to play your games,’” he clarified.

Duterte was also quick to point out that he is not into “people power.” He also distanced himself from loyalty checks within the AFP.

The former president added he will take his cue from the military on what they will eventually do.

“(AFP chief Gen. Romeo) Brawner is a non-reactive subject. If he insists that the country is stable, we can’t do anything about it,” Duterte added.

The former president likewise mentioned how the country’s funds are hemorrhaging.

“This government does not have any projects, just maintenance and aids. The government’s money is being distributed left and right by Romualdez,” he lamented.

The former president also alleged that the government put in danger the pensions of the workers in the private and government sectors, including the military, when they took