HOUSE Committee on Muslim Affairs and Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo on Wednesday appealed to Vice President Sara Duterte, as a valued member of the Cabinet, to help in restraining the attacks of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
In today’s press briefing at the House of Representatives, Dimaporo was asked for his thoughts on VP Duterte’s appearance in a prayer rally yesterday for SMNI that quickly turned into an anti-Marcos gathering.
“From what I heard and saw, VP Sara was among the crowd talking to the people. We don’t really know what her purpose is there,” Dimaporo said.
“I would want to believe that her purpose is to at least neutralize the former president na huwag naman masyadong masipag ‘yung banat kay President Bongbong Marcos because she is still his Cabinet secretary for education,” he added.
Dimaporo said that peace should reign in the holy month of Ramadan, and he hopes that VP Duterte can help taper down the attacks of her father against President Marcos Jr.
“I hope that being his daughter, our former president, President Duterte will somewhat be, in a way, parang tapered down or like dialogue can open, because this hasn’t helped anybody. This is the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.
“And with regards to the prayer rally, is it an opposition, is it something to be worried about? Kami naman we’re from Mindanao so basta lang walang armas, walang crossfire, walang violence and you know there’s no harm,” he added.
Dimaporo said the rally was an expression of democracy, but he still believes it would not impact the popularity of President Marcos Jr.
“At the end of the day, I strongly believe the majority of the Filipino people will rally with our President, President Bongbong Marcos, because he is doing the right thing,” he declared.
House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega, who was also present during the daily press briefing, expressed concern about what was said during the supposed prayer rally.
“Minsan mellow, minsan mainit na, umiinit ng umiinit pero the personalities who are there should be the personalities who are first and foremost na dapat nandiyan na tutulong sa gobyerno para ayusin ‘yung mga problema natin,” Ortega said.
“Hindi yung dadagdagan pa ‘yung mga political tension. Mas marami pong malalaking problema ‘yung bansa kaysa sa mag-uumpisa tayo with political problems, political accusations. Yung mga hindi na po kailangan na sinasabi sa entablado, it will only agitate the public,” he added. “I encourage them na tulungan natin ‘yung gobyerno natin. Tulungan natin si Presidente Bongbong Marcos kasi ang aga po ng pulitika. Tulungan po natin yung bansa.”
