Vice President Sara Duterte clarified she has no plans to attend the Iglesia ni Cristo’s three-day rally beginning today, noting that her public engagements are usually held abroad, but called on the government to respect people’s right to express themselves.
“Kami sa Office of the Vice President suportado namin kayo sa inyong paggamit ng inyong karapatan sa malayang pamamahayag, freedom of speech and expression,” she said in a chance interview on Friday, November 14.
(We at the Office of the Vice President support you in exercising your right to freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and expression.)
When asked about the alleged attempts to destabilize the administration, Duterte said that the Marcos administration had long been ‘paranoid’.
“Ang balita ko na simula sila maging paranoid noong nag babiyahe sila abroad. Natatakot sila na wala na silang babalikan dito sa bayan natin. At nakikita nyo naman yung paranoia nila sa mga actions nila tulad nung panggigipit sa mga kababayan natin na nagsasalita kontra sa kanila,” she added.
(My news is that they started to become paranoid when they traveled abroad. They are afraid that they will never return to our country. And you can see their paranoia in their actions, such as the harassment of our countrymen who speak out against them.)
Earlier, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said that President Marcos is actively monitoring the rally staged by the religious group for transparency and better democracy while he is in the Palace.
Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said security has been tightened at Malacañang to prevent a repeat of the disturbances that happened during the September 21 protest at Mendiola Street.
