Religious and political leaders called for a de-escalation of political tensions amid rhetoric on assassinating the President, impeaching the Vice President and appeals for military adventurism.
On Wednesday, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula called on Catholics to pray for peace between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
“I humbly exhort you all to pray for them that they may receive the grace to exercise statesmanship in most trying times, so that sobriety may prevail in our land, and that political issues and personal interests may not divide the nation,” the prelate said in a statement.
“It is our prayer that they may have the humility to listen to each other with respect and act together for the sake of the country,” Advincula added.
The cardinal also appealed to other influential individuals to refrain from fanning the flames of discord.
“I ask all the leaders of goodwill from different sectors of our society to do what they can to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts,” Advincula said.
For his part, former Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the foreign business community to help bring about sobriety in the country.
Speaking before the American Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao, Lacson said prolonged tension between the two highest elected officials would only discourage potential investors from doing business in the Philippines.
“While the perennial warmongers whose pastime is to make their day complete with their passion for gossip and entertainment… the majority of us who are sober and discerning feel sad and concerned how this development could affect the future of our country,” he told American businessmen.
Meanwhile, former Senator Bam Aquino called out those using the name of his slain uncle, Ninoy Aquino, as fodder for political rhetoric.
On Ninoy’s 92nd birth anniversary on Wednesday, the younger Aquino said political stakeholders should avoid dragging the icon of Philippine democracy into their squabbles.
He was referring to Vice President Duterte’s remark, wherein she said in Filipino, “Didn’t the whole country resist when their family [Marcoses] killed Benigno Aquino, Jr.?”
“These past days, we have heard on several occasions the mention of Ninoy Aquino in political squabbles. What I can say is, don’t drag Ninoy Aquino into your political fights,” Aquino said.
The former lawmaker stressed that his uncle’s legacy was all about “his fight for a just and peaceful society, affordable education, and a government that is not corrupt.”
However, senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured that the feud between the country’s two highest-ranking executives has not created a schism within the ranks of the military.
During a Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmation hearing at the Senate, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida said there are no ‘grumblings’ within the organization.
“100 percent none, Sir,” he told Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada in response to a direct question.
In a separate interview, AFP Sergeant Major, FCMS Feliciano Lazo also assured that the military, particularly the enlisted personnel, will remain professional and non-partisan.
“Our soldiers know better, they will not take part [in a military uprising]. They cannot be enticed [by the Dutertes] to join for their personal interests,” Lazo said in Filipino.
As this developed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) presented to the journalists several video snippets supposedly showing how Duterte supporters gathered at the Edsa Shrine were being transported and paid for their participation in the protest action.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo pointed out that there was a logbook of those who allegedly received payment to attend the gathering.
The supposedly paid participants were promised P500, but according to the police spokesperson, some complained they only received P200.
Only around 100 Duterte supporters were still at the EDSA Shrine by late Wednesday morning, even though they said more were coming to join them.
