Leyte mayors, bishop appeal for propriety from VP Sara Duterte
TACLOBAN CITY — “Stop dividing the nation.”
This was the appeal of mayors from Leyte’s first district to Vice President Sara Duterte.
This plea comes after the vice president recently disclosed that she had talked with someone to kill President Marcos Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she would be assassinated.
In a manifesto released on Nov. 27, the mayors described Duterte’s recent remarks as “inappropriate and divisive.”
They called on all Filipinos to stand against politically-motivated attacks and to support leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to nation-building.
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“Let us reject malicious rhetoric and reaffirm our commitment to a unified, progressive and peaceful Philippines,” the mayors said.
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The manifesto was signed by seven mayors of Leyte’s seven towns in the 1st district, which is represented in Congress by Romualdez.
The signatories are Mayors Lovell Ann Yu-Castro of Alangalang, Norman Sabdao of San Miguel, Gina Merilo of Tanauan, Erwin Ocaña of Tolosa, Amparo Monteza of Sta. Fe, Eleonor Lugnasin of Babatngon, and Remedios Petilla of Palo.
The mayors pledged their support for Romualdez, who they said would not attempt to have someone killed, especially the vice president.
Under Romualdez’s leadership, the mayors highlighted his role in passing critical legislation, mobilizing resources, and prioritizing the welfare of Filipinos.
“He has carried out his responsibilities with diligence, transparency and unwavering dedication to the greater good of the nation,” the mayors said.
Duterte, in an online press conference last Nov. 23, accused Romualdez of planning to have her killed.
As a reaction, She claimed that she had contacted someone to assassinate the three persons if she would be taken down.
But a Catholic bishop saw Duterte’s remarks as “totally unbecoming and inappropriate.”
“With all the challenges we are facing as a nation — both from within and outside of our country, this is the last thing we want from the highest leaders of our land,” said Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, Negros Occidental.
“I hope Filipino voters are learning an important lesson from this. We are now seeing the kind of leaders we have. There are so many distractions amidst so many destructions happening around us and worst, within ourselves as a people,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on local officials to focus on ensuring economic growth and serve their constituents amid escalating political tension following Duterte’s pronouncements.
“I call especially on the local officials to focus on your work. That will be a problem if everybody will take sides already. We should not do that. Let’s just continue to work,” Lacson said on Tuesday, Nov. 26.