Malacañang cannot be quiet regarding the tagging of
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as a threat to democracy.
The palace has rejected such tagging by the World Threat Assessment Report calling the
Philippine President in the same league with ruling Thai officials and
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, as among regional leaders who threaten
democracy and human rights.
“For one, President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte is no autocrat or has autocratic tendencies. He adheres to
the rule of law and remains loyal to the Constitution,” Presidential
Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
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| video grab from ABS-CBN |
The Worldwide
Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community released a report, dated
Feb. 12, stating that Duterte has suggested he could suspend the constitution
and declare a revolutionary government or martial law.
"In the
Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign
against drugs, corruption, and crime. Duterte has suggested he could suspend
the Constitution, declare a 'revolutionary government,' and impose nationwide
martial law. His declaration of martial law in Mindanao, responding to the
ISIS-inspired siege of Marawi City, has been extended through the end of
2018," the report said.
It was also cited
the Freedom House report, the US intel report listing the Philippines as one of
the governments that use propaganda and misinformation in social media ““to
influence foreign and domestic audiences.”
Roque, described
all that is in the report as “myopic and speculative” at best.
He acknowledged
that the Duterte administration uses social media to promote government
messages and accomplishments, but noted that the opposition and other
cause-oriented groups do the same.
“We have to
understand the use of social media has become an important part of the daily
lives of Filipinos,” Roque said describing it “foolhardy” not to tap social
media as a tool. *
“I don't know of
any government in the free world which does not use the internet and social
media to promote its agenda. This is very true especially in the case of the
US. This latest intelligence assessment is a classic case in point,” Presidential
Spokesperson said.
The Presidential
Spokesperson continues to explain that there is no autocracy in the Philippines
since all media outfits are still able to broadcast and print what they want,
including fake news.
He also said
that the Philippine judiciary and the courts are functioning as usual,
legislature remains independent, and basic services are still being delivered.
“There is no
revolutionary government or nationwide martial law, which US intelligence
officials are saying that the President might declare or impose,” Roque said.
In a different
occasion Roque response regarding the matter is that because of the President’s
independent foreign policy has made him “not a favorite among the Americans.”
"We view this declaration from no less than the
intelligence department of the United States with some concern, knowing that at
least in one case the International Court of Justice has found the US guilty of
interference in the affairs of a domestic state," he added, citing the
case of Republic of Nicaragua v. The United States of America. *
"This is something we are taking very seriously. It is
coming from the intelligence community. It is not even coming from the State
Department. It is something that the President will take seriously as
well."
In its decision, the ICJ found the US guilty of violating
international law by supporting an armed rebellion against the Nicaraguan
government ( abs cbn “US intel brands
Duterte a threat to democracy; PH eyes assessment 'very seriously'”)
The Presidential spokesperson explains that the country
still wants to be friends with the United States "but with declarations
such as this, it is very difficult to be friendly with the United States...It
doesn't seem to be too friendly a declaration."
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