Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa. 鈥� MALACA脩ANG FILE PHOTO
MANILA,聽 Philippines 鈥� There is nothing seditious when former President Rodrigo Duterte laid out the available options for the military amid the political turmoil in the country, Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa聽said on Wednesday.
In fact, his former police chief Dela Rosa agreed with Durterte鈥檚 opinion.
鈥淚 agree with him when he laid down on the table the available options for the military. I agree with him when he educate the military kung ano ang papel nila (on their role) to defend the Constitution,鈥� Dela Rosa said in an interview at the Senate.
As the 鈥渦ltimate defender of the Filipino people,鈥� the senator also stressed the role of the military to stabilize鈥攁nd not destabilize鈥� the country.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 say anything about staging a coup. He didn鈥檛 say anything about attacking Malaca帽ang. He didn鈥檛 say anything like that. He just reminded the military of their role here in our country,鈥� Dela Rosa said.
So when asked if Duterte鈥檚 remarks could be considered seditious, the senator said, 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 not.鈥�
Pressed further if the former leader鈥檚 statement was tantamount to a call for the military鈥檚 withdrawal of support, Dela Rosa said: 鈥淓 kung gusto nila mag withdraw, mag withdraw sila.鈥�
(If they want to withdraw, let them withdraw)
The senator did not elaborate on his last statement.
Duterte, in a press conference on Monday, claimed that there was a 鈥渇ractured governance鈥� in the country.
鈥淣obody can correct Marcos. Nobody can correct [Martin] Romualdez. There is no urgent remedy. It is only the military who can correct it,鈥� he said.
This statement was considered聽 鈥渂ordering on sedition and is legally actionable鈥� by Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte called out for trying to stir military vs Marcos
Malaca帽ang called out Duterte for his insulting call that would benefit his daughter, Vice President聽 Sara Duterte.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte called out for trying to stir military vs Marcos
鈥淣o motive is more selfish than calling for a sitting president to be overthrown so that your daughter can take over,鈥� read a statement from the Office of the Executive Secretary.
鈥淎nd he will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their oath, for his plan to succeed,鈥� it added.