FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte has been urged to be mindful of his criticisms towards his successor, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., as they may send the wrong signals to the Filipino public and the international community.
During Thursday’s regular press conference at the House of Representatives, Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin cautioned Duterte that his statements require careful consideration due to their potential implications.
“I think with due respect to former president Duterte, minsan kailangan lang na i-decipher kasi even when he was president, sometimes he would make candid jokes, tapos nakakalimutan niya na kaakibat nung kanyang stature, opisyal iyong kanyang nagiging statements,” Garin said in a press conference.
Garin was reacting to the string of criticisms leveled by the former chief executive against President Marcos, particularly addressing the latest insinuation that the incumbent leader was merely indulging in leisurely travels during his trips abroad.
She said that if those remarks were intended as jokes, the former president should be mindful of the context in which certain jokes are made.
“Medyo kailangan ilugar iyong ibang mga jokes,” she said. “But in the context of tama ba o hindi ba, although karapatan niya iyon, baka nagpapatawa siya. Pero iyong bigger impact kasi is not good.”
The House leader underscored the “responsibility and accountability” attached to being a former president, saying that each uttered word carries weight and influences public perception.
“Because whether you are supportive of the administration or you are against the administration, ang importante doon as former president, titingnan mo, ano ba ang iyong responsibilidad sa bawat katagang ilalabas mo. Dahil bawat katagang ilalabas mo, iisisipin mo as former president, may impact iyan sa taong-bayan,” she pointed out.
Garin cited examples of other former presidents who exercised discretion in their public statements, opting for diplomatic language over personal jokes.
“Siguro nasanay lang si PRRD na mag-joke, pero if you look at former presidents Erap Estrada, FVR, the late PNoy, even our colleague here, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, iyong kanilang mga personal na jokes ay hindi nila sinasabi sa publiko at kung mayroon silang mga personal na pananaw, they will make it sure that they would release diplomatic statements. Kasi kaakibat na iyan ng iyong pagkatao,” she said.
She also cited the need for Duterte to align his remarks with the gravity of his position and the potential repercussions they may have on the country’s international standing.
“So, iyan lang ‘yung sana medyo mabago ito kasi pwede siyang naging nakakatawa doon sa mga kaharap mo pero dahil ‘pag lumabas siya sa general public, through media, iba ‘yung dating,” Garin said.
She added: “Statements like that can actually diminish the respect of other countries to our country. Hindi ang pagkatao ni President BBM ang nate-taint eh, ang nababastos ‘yung pagkatao ng buong Pilipinas, ang Filipino.”
