DILG Secretary Eduardo A帽o. 黑料社 file photo / Daphne Galvez
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo A帽o believes National Youth Commission (NYC) chair Ronald Cardema was only misquoted in reports that claimed he said scholarships of anti-government students should be revoked.
鈥淣amisquote lang si Cardema kasi pag tiningnan niyo, binasa ko ulit 鈥榶ung buong statement niya, ang sinabi naman doon, 鈥榬ebellious.鈥� Ibig sabihin niya, 鈥榶ung mga estudyante na may link dito sa New People鈥檚 Army (NPA) and fighting against the government,鈥� A帽o told reporters on Thursday.
(Cardema was only misquoted because if you will look at it, and I read the statement again, what he said there was 鈥渞ebellious.鈥� He meant it only for students with link to the NPA and fighting against the government.)
READ: NYC chair: Remove scholarships of 鈥榓nti-government鈥� students
鈥溾�榊un ang ibig niyang sabihin. Namisquote lang siya but for students na nagrarally, that鈥檚 freedom of expression (That鈥檚 what he meant. He was only misquoted but for students joining rallies, that鈥檚 freedom of expression),鈥� he said.
A帽o believes there is no problem if students engage in protests against government programs, but added that they should not 鈥渃ross the line鈥� by joining the NPA and planning to overthrow the government.
He said that authorities should instead monitor 鈥渦nderground organizations鈥� of the communist movement, and not the students joining rallies.
The DILG chief also disagreed with those calling for Cardema to resign from his post, citing his achievements in his stint as chair of NYC.
鈥淚 want him to stay kasi tao lang naman 鈥榶un, nagkamali lang siguro siya dun sa pagkakabigay niya ng statement, but if you look at what he has done as chairman sa National Youth Commission, maganda 鈥榶ung mga programa niya, lalo na 鈥榶ung pagbabalik ng ROTC (Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps) na ina-advocate niya,鈥� he said.
(I want him to stay because he鈥檚 just human. Maybe he was just wrong with how he delivered the statement, but if you will look at what he has done as chairman at the National Youth Commission, he has done a lot of good programs, especially the return of ROTC which he advocates.)
He said Cardema should instead 鈥渞ectify鈥� his statement for clarity, adding that 鈥渉e should be more careful being a government official.鈥� /je
READ: NYC chair clarifies: Scholars may call for Duterte resignation, join protests