By Brian Campued
“Hindi po ginagawa na katatawanan ang ganitong klaseng sitwasyon.”
Malacañang on Friday reminded former President Rodrigo Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, to refrain from treating the rise in kidnapping cases in the country as a laughing matter.
“Huwag ninyo pong gawin na issue dahil may buhay po ditong nakasalalay, may mga buhay na nawala. Huwag ninyong gawing issue ito at gawin ninyong katatawanan ang gobyerno,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing, citing the recent abduction and murder of Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur Anson Que.
Castro made the remarks when asked to comment on Avanceña’s statement “congratulating” the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on the spate of abduction cases in the country.
“Parang ikinatutuwa pa ba niya na may mga ganitong sitwasyon sa bansa. Hindi ba dapat bilang Pilipino, nagkakaisa tayo upang ang bansa natin ay umangat hindi lamang para sa taumbayan at para na rin mapakita natin sa buong mundo na ang Pilipinas, at ang mga Pilipino ay nagkakaisa,” the Palace official said.
Castro also stressed that President Marcos has already directed the Philippine National Police to create a Special Investigation Task Force on the case of Que—proof that the administration seriously condemns every crime committed in the country.
The PNP has also relieved PBGEN. Elmer Ragay from his post as director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group in connection with the rise in abduction cases in the country.
“Makaaasa po ang taumbayan at ang buong sambayanan na hindi po tutulugan ng gobyerno ang mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon. Pananatilihin po natin na magkakaroon ng hustisya, bibigyan natin ng hustisya ang dapat na bigyan ng hustisya at hindi po natin hahayaan na mangyaring muli ang naganap sa mga naging biktima ng [extrajudicial killings],” Castro continued.
PBBM in good health, Palace assures
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured the public that Marcos is in good health as netizens noticed the Chief Executive’s bleeding gums while speaking in an event at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.
“Sa aking perspektibo dahil nakakasama tayo mismo ng Pangulo, maganda po ang kalusugan ng ating Pangulo—dahil kung hindi po maganda ang kalusugan ng ating Pangulo, malamang ay hindi na po siya nakakaganap ng kaniyang mga tungkulin sa araw-araw,” Castro told reporters.
Castro also urged “fake news peddlers” to stop from sharing posts speculating Marcos’ health.
“Huwag ninyo pong gawan ng kuwento ang Pangulo patungkol sa kaniyang kalusugan. Hindi po iyan maganda para sa ating bansa, dapat po ipagdasal pa po natin na maging maganda ang kalusugan ng mga namumuno sa atin,” she said.
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