Magalong says Duterte’s remarks to military ‘uncalled for’

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Wednesday branded former President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks "uncalled for," but said he does not believe a coup attempt against the current administration will happen.

''Uncalled for 'yung mga ganoong remarks. Siguro naging emosyonal siya, siguro intindihin na lang natin may sama siya ng loob, pero 'yung mga ganoong threatening remarks, they should not be doing that, dapat hindi nila ginagawa 'yun,'' he said in an interview.       

(Remarks like those are uncalled for. Probably he was being emotional; maybe we can understand that he has ill will, but they still should not be making those kinds of threatening remarks.)

In a press conference on Monday, Duterte lashed out at President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr., saying only the military can "correct" his "fractured governance" and asking how long the armed forces can support a "drug addict"—an accusation he has more than once leveled against his successor.

It came days after his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, declared that she had contracted someone to assassinate Marcos if she were killed, a statement she has since claimed has been "maliciously taken out of context."

Asked if Duterte's remarks might incite a coup d'etat against Marcos, Magalong replied, ''Hindi naman, hindi naman dati na akong nakasama diyan, so far 'yung mga ganyan, I don't think it will happen.''

Magalong, a retired police official, was detained in 2006 for alleged rebellion. He was among 49 people charged for their participation in an alleged coup attempt against then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. — BM, GMA Integrated News