Former president Rodrigo Duterte*
Let us heed the call of former president Rodrigo Duterte for the Filipinos people to calm down, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, March 17.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 by virtue of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity arising from his drug war, during which thousands were killed. He was then brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day for his trial before the ICC.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who met with her father in The Hague, said he told her to tell his supporters to “Just relax. There is an end to everything. There is a day of reckoning”.
“If he himself is calling for all Filipinos, especially his supporters to calm down, I think we should follow,” the governor said.
“It’s okay to manifest your sentiments, if you believe in prayer I would truly suggest to call for prayer vigils.” Lacson added.
He pointed out that a “divided country will not be good for any of us”.
Asked if the Duterte situation will affect foreign investments in the county, Lacson said: “We have not reached that level yet, the trust of the investors is very high, let’s keep it that way and heed the call of the former president”.
“Any divisiveness in any country is not good, especially for potential investors. They might again stay in the sidelines and wait for better conditions but I don’t think we have reached that level,” Lacson said.
Lacson said he does not believe the situation of Duterte will affect local politics.
“I think if you run for any local position, the issue is local. You run because you think you can serve your community so you must let the public know what you intend to do if they elect you,” Lacson said.
“I don’t think it will really be a major factor – the national issue with regards to a local election but maybe it can affect the senatoriables,” he said.
He said like millions of Filipinos he will be waiting for news on status of the former president.*