By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: PCOO

Another batch of claims came barrelling down as President Rodrigo Duterte said that the opposition and communists groups are working to disrupt the 2022 national elections.

“There's a parang grouping of the communists, itong mga dilawan, pati itong mga…may isa pa, mga... Well, of course itong komunista is already a terrorist organization. So mga dilawan. I forgot the other one,” Duterte said as he sat down with his friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for an exit interview aired on Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

“Iyan ang ano namin, diyan ang ano ng gobyerno. They are watching for that kind of situation. They might be... Iyon ang sinabi ko na puwedeng manggulo kasi they have these working relations now with the dilawan and the election is the objective really,” he added.

Moreover, the chief executive admitted that election-related violence is existing.

“I cannot guarantee you that it will be peaceful. There will be one or two or three,” he said.

“And even dito sa (here in) Mindanao, I mean, even the warring factions diyan sa (in) Cotabato. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila (I already told them), ‘I will not allow terrorism sa (during) elections.’ I will not allow violence,” he added.

In response to ensure that this year’s elections will be safe and peaceful, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is coordinating with the law enforcement forces. The poll body also imposed a gun ban that took effect from January 9 to June 8, 2022.

With 56 days left before the polls, ten presidential and nine vice presidential aspirants are wooing Filipinos to clinch the two highest positions of the country, succeeding Duterte and presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo, whose terms will end on June 30, 2022.


Edited by: Phylline Calubayan