President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has expressed alarm Saturday over an intelligence report saying communist insurgents are conniving with a certain political organization to sow discord especially this coming election.
“Ewan ko ‘yung mga… But what I really am afraid of is the report of the intelligence community. Kung may panahon ka, ipa-brief kita ng ano ng — the intelligence people,” President Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“There’s a parang grouping of the communists, itong mga dilawan, pati itong mga — may isa pa, mga… Well, of course itong komunista is already a terrorist organization. So mga dilawan, that’s a… I forgot the other one,” he added.
“Iyan ang ano namin, diyan ang ano ng gobyerno. They are watching for that kind of situation. They might be… Iyon ang sinabi ko na puwedeng manggulo kasi they have these working relations now with the dilawan and the election is the objective really.”
Meanwhile, the President made a renewed warning to politicians or groups planning to use violence to advance their political interest in the coming national elections.
He particularly mentioned the warring factions in Cotabato, telling those involved: “’I will not allow terrorism sa election. I will not allow violence.’ Kampanya lang kayo. ‘Pag nag — puntahan ko talaga kayo.”
“And I’m repeating this warning this election. Wala akong… May kinakampihan ako. I’m a politician, I could not have been President without politics. Pero iyong mga magsabi mag-warlord-warlord, ah wala na talaga kasi pupuntahan ko talaga kayo. Maniwala kayo, pupuntahan ko kayo.”
President Duterte also brushed off reports saying most of the ballots to be used in the coming polls have already been printed without any witness.
The President said he does not believe the accusation, noting he has full trust on the members of the Commission and Elections (Comelec).
“Wala akong… Because I think the ballot is being printed sa Bureau of Printing. At palagay ko naman, if there is a requirement that there should be witnesses, I am sure wala akong rason narinig na this particular rule has been disregarded. I have not yet heard of it,” the President said. PND
