MANILA -- Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday debunked a US intelligence report claiming President Rodrigo R. Duterte is a threat to democracy, saying the President only wanted the people to respect the government and the laws of the land that it is mandated to implement and uphold.
In an ambush interview, Pacquiao said the US intelligence community may have misunderstood the real intentions of the President to arrive at their assessment.
According to the US Intelligence Community in its Worldwide Threat Assessment report, Duterte is among the "regional threats" to US national security in Southeast Asia.
"In the Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime," the US Intelligence Community said.
"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 US Intelligence Community added.
The report covers "threats to US national security" and the US Intelligence Community output is needed "to protect American lives and America's interests anywhere in the world".
“Ang ating Pangulo has no intention na hawakan sa leeg ang buong sambayanang Pilipino (Our President does not intend to hold the Filipino people in the neck). Ang (The) intention ng ating Pangulo (of our President) is very clear: to exercise the power and authority of the government,” Pacquiao said.
“Ang gusto niya kasi, ang tao magkakaroon ng respeto, magkakaroon ng paggalang sa ating gobyerno, lalo na sa pagsunod sa ating mga batas (What he wants is for the people to respect our government, particularly for them to abide by our laws),” the boxing champion-turned-lawmaker said.
He lamented that people are beginning to disrespect the government and the law because of the lenient implementation of the law.
He said other countries, particularly Singapore, enjoy unfettered development because its citizens are law-abiding and respect the duly constituted government.
“Ganun ang nangyayari sa ibang bansa. Para madisplina mo, para magkaroon tayo ng magandang pamumuhay, para magkaroon tayo ng (That is what is happening in other countries. For one to have discipline, for us to have better lives, so that we may have a) progressive country, kailangan nating respetuhin, igalang ang ating gobyerno (we must respect our government),” Pacquiao said.
He said that is what the President really wanted to convey to the Filipino people: that it is impossible for a country to become peaceful and progressive if its people do not abide by the laws of the land.
“Iyon ang importante. Kung walang respeto sa ating gobyerno, kung walang respeto sa ating batas, hindi tayo magkakaroon ng masagana at matagumpay na bansa (That is what's important. If we do not have respect for our government, if we do not respect our laws, we cannot have a prosperous and successful country),” Pacquiao said. (PNA)
