A LAW professor of Rodrigo Duterte when he was studying at the San Beda College on Thursday called the President the “New Macoy,” referring to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos after he decided to tone down the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the People Power Revolution this week.
“To me, as one who played a role… nakalulungkot dahil that was one bright shining moment na we shocked and awed the whole world,” former senator Rene Saguisag told GMA News.
“Bakit ganun, babalewalain? Pero karapatan nila ‘yon dahil itong si Digong [Duterte], bagong Macoy ito eh.”
Malacañang said Saguisag’s comments were uncalled for.
“I think the comparison is too broad and uncalled for,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
He made his statement even as Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada ordered the Manila Police District to field enough policemen to the Rizal Park, where 200,000 pro-Duterte supporters are expected to rally on Feb. 25.
Estrada said he saw no reason not to allow the gathering.
“I have ordered the Manila Police District to maintain peace and order during the gathering and make sure the motorists, pedestrians and commuters will not be inconvenienced,” Estrada said.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the judiciary will remain loyal to the Constitution and faithful to its duties.
“The judiciary is here to serve justice in the role it has been given by this Constitution, which is to convict only on the basis of the evidence, to rule according to law, to give no man favor and to harbor no malice towards any,” Sereno said in an interview after the launching of the Governance in Justice program at the Manila Hotel.
Abella insisted that toning down the People Power celebration was the administration’s way of commemorating its 31st anniversary.
“[It’s] a matter of different strokes for different folks. I don’t know if you call it downgrading. It simply is a different style,” Abella said.
“Senator Saguisag has emotional ties to these things. We are not downgrading that. I am just saying that he also feels strongly and perhaps he wants it to be some more grandiose way.”
On Tuesday, Saguisag said he regretted the decision of the San Beda Law School not to expel then law student Rodrigo Duterte following a shooting incident with a classmate.
He said he voted to have Duterte ousted but was outvoted by the dean and the priest of the law school.
“They felt sorry for him since he was already a senior. It was decided to just let him graduate but not to allow him to march at the rites,” Saguisag said.
Duterte shot Octavio Goco, a law school classmate, after Goco teased him incessantly for being a “probinsyano,” Saguisag said.
He said that incident showed early the “trigger- happy” attitude of the President.