Bato told to be loyal to Constitution, not Duterte

An anti-Charter change group on Tuesday told Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to be loyal to the Constitution and not to President Rodrigo Duterte.

At a press briefing by the #TindigPilipinas Coalition, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano said Dela Rosa should be careful with his statements and mindful of how it will be interpreted by the public.

"Maraming mga irresponsible moments. 'Di nila tinitingnan 'yung mga salita nila ay i-impact sa buhay ng ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino," Alejano said.

"Bilang chief PNP, siya ang Chief PNP ng buong sambayanan at hindi siya private army ni Duterte. Dapat ang kanyang loyalty at nasa Konstitusyon at nasa taumbayan," he added.

Alejano was reacting to Dela Rosa's statement on Saturday that he will go to war with the "opposition" should they attempt to take down the Duterte administration.

Alejano, meanwhile, advised Duterte to choose his words carefully, after the President joked about the Philippines becoming a province of China.

"Paano pa ipaglaban ng ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino ang ating kasarinlan, ang ating soberenya kung mismo ang pangulo ang makikitaan mo ng pagbibigay?" Alejano said.

For her part, Teresita Deles of EveryWoman said: "Napakasakit po na ngayon sa haba ng... paglaban natin sa pagsakop ng isang diktatura na nanggaling mismo sa 'tin ay mukhang kinalimutan na ang ating buong kasaysayan ay isang paglalaban."

#TindigPilipinas, a "coalition of coalitions," aims to educate Filipinos, especially those living outside of Metro Manila, on the true aspects of Charter change, particularly provisions that the group believes may lead to another dictatorship.

"Thirteen years after we fell in love with another stongman, we are also falling in love with another strongman, and it's really important to remember why," Shamah Bulangis of Youth Resist said.

"It's like when you're in a toxic relationship, nakita mo na nga ang red flags, ito 'yung ayaw mo. Kailangan ma-ingrain siya sa long term memory mo para the next time, you don't have to fall for the same abusive relationship," she added.

#TindigPilipinas will hold a program entitled "People Werpa!" at 3 p.m. on February 25, the anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, at the People Power Monument.

The group said it will be a non-partisan event that will feature former and incumbent senators, framers of the 1987 Constitution, and journalists from the Martial Law era. —KBK, GMA News