Duterte warns Filipinos vs Magdalo group

Updated November 16, 2018, 9:08 PM

By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte has warned the Filipino nation against supporting Magdalo party-list group, saying its mutinous members were crazy like the Islamic State.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The President said the public should be “careful” about the Magdalo group following its past involvement in rebellion against the government.

“Be careful with Magdalo. Be careful of ‘yang partidong Magdalo. Ito ‘yung mga rebeldeng sundalo na nagkalat diyan sa Makati pati sa Peninsula. And they destroyed everything, parang ISIS ang mga buang [Be careful with Magdalo. Be careful of the Magdalo party-list. These are the rebel soldiers who ran loose in Makati and Peninsula hotel and they destroyed everyone. They’re crazy like ISIS],” he said during the meeting with the Filipino community here.

[Wala silang alam kung ‘di to kill, maghahamon, magbastos [They know nothing but kill, taunt and insult (people)],” said Duterte, who was scheduled to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Saturday.

Duterte said the former rebel soldiers thought they were “invincible” after receiving amnesty from his predecessor former President Benigno Aquino III. The group led by then Naval officer Antonio Trillanes IV were given pardon after launching separate rebellion against then Arroyo administration.

“Be careful again with military lalo na ‘yang mga rebelde tapos na-rehab because they were extended pardon by Aquino. So they became in a — sort of invincible na [Be careful again with the military especially the rebels who were rehabilitated because they were extended pardon by Aquino. So they became sort of invincible],” he said.

“Be careful with those guys. Maniwala kayo. Take it from (me),” he said.

“Ako wala na eh. This is my last chapter. I cannot run again. I am limited to six, I am halfway through. So ang akin is just to take care of my country,” he added.

The President, meantime, endorsed the senatorial candidacy of former police chief Ronald dela Rosa during the Filipino community event. He said Dela Rosa was an effective policeman, adding the country needs people like him.

“Si Bato, who is by the way running for senator, kung maalaala lang rin ninyo, he used to be my chief of staff for so long a time. Mahusay talaga ‘to. Kailangan ninyo ng mga pulis na matino,” he said.

Duterte quickly dispelled speculations that he was engaged in early campaigning. He said he cannot be accused of premature campaigning because he was not in the country.

He said criminal laws were jurisdictional so a person cannot only be prosecuted in the palace where he or she committed the crime.

“Eh magkampanya ako dito, paki ninyo [If I campaign here, what do you care?],” he said.

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