PH must protest US intel report on Duterte — Alvarez
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Philippines must protest the United States’ alleged meddling in the country’s domestic affairs, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said following the release of a US intelligence report citing President Duterte as a threat to democracy in Southeast Asia.
Alvarez urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest against the US, saying the Philippines doesn’t need any interference from the Western superpower.
READ: US Intelligence Community: Duterte is one of threats to democracy in Southeast Asia
He also proposed the dissolution of the United Nations so that the Philippines can have an option to join other international organizations.
“Imumungkahi ko na buwagin na ‘yong UN kasi wala nang silbi ‘yan e. Dito na lang tayo sa Asya, United Nations of Asia, at mapangalagaan natin ang interes ng Asya,” he said.
The Speaker, a staunch ally of the President, stressed that the US, in particular its intelligence agencies, has a track record of destabilizing and ousting governments.
“Dapat unang-una mag-ano ng protesta diyan ‘yung ating DFA,” Alvarez said over DZMM radio. Kasi anong pakialam nila sa atin eh sila nga itong maraming kalokohan sa iba’t ibang bansa? Nanghihimasok sila eh di naman sila kasali doon.”
(First of all, the DFA should file a protest. Why do they care about us when it’s them who had been interfering with other states?”)
In its 2018 World Threat Assessment report, the US Intelligence Community cited Duterte as one of the leaders that pose a threat to democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia.
The report noted Duterte’s signature war on drugs campaign that left thousands of drug suspects dead, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the President’s threat of forming a revolutionary government that would suspend the Constitution.
But Malacañang downplayed the report, asserting that the President, being a lawyer, upholds the rule of law and human rights.
READ: Roque junks US intel report; Trillanes says it’s a ‘warning shot’
Asked if he agreed with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the report was a warning shot for the Duterte administration, Alvarez said it was indeed a sign to veer away from the US.
“Warning shot ito para sa administrasyon, para sa ating bayan na talagang mag-alsa sa ginagawa nitong Amerika. Matagal na silang nakikialam sa atin,” Alvarez said.
(This is a warning shot for the administration, for the country to revolt against the US. They’ve been interfering with our affairs.)
