People urged to protect democracy

CEBU, Philippines — Former Solicitor General Florence Hilbay has urged the people to protect the democracy and to “never again” allow martial rule in the country.

Hilbay issued the call yesterday during an educational forum organized by Saint Theresa’s College and Tindig Pilipinas to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

The forum entitled “The Path of Key National Issues: Quo Vadis Pilipinas” was also attended by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and retired Regional Trial Court Judge Mienrado Paredes, a victim of martial law.

Alejano said there are already signs that President Rodrigo Duterte could be a worst dictator than former President Ferdinand Marcos. The opposition lawmaker warned the people that the country is now slowly sliding back to dictatorship.

 "If we allow the erosion of our democracy right now, talagang babalik tayo doon, sasabihin ko sa inyo mas malupit kaysa President Marcos. Sa ngayon pa lang, more than 20,000 na ang napatay nga gipasumangil lang sa drug war,” Alejano said.

He said that while he is against illegal drugs but due process of law should not be disregarded. During the forum Hilbay also discussed Charter Change and Federalism, which according to him is a prelude to another dictatorship.

Hilbay said that federalism would create total dictatorship as all powers are given to the President. Paredes also narrated to the student participants of the forum his experiences during the martial law.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, in a statement, said that Duterte should stop using the people's tragedies to justify his repugnance for democracy and idolatry of the Marcoses and hide his government's gross incompetence as it extremely appalling and insulting. 

Hontiveros said that Duterte is the real destabilizer and has destabilized the country's democracy, economy, peace and institutions of governance. 

"In times of crisis, the people need a reliable leader, not a senseless destabilizer. The people deserve a real commander-in-chief, not a destabilizer-in-chief," Hontiveros added.—  FPL (FREEMAN)