PRRD has no regrets about rejecting the support of oligarchs

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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte stated on Tuesday that he has no regrets about turning down oligarchs’ offer to finance his 2016 presidential campaign.

In his prerecorded Talk to the People, Duterte made the remarks as he reiterated his stance to dismantle oligarchy.

“Sabi ko, itong mga oligarch (I said these oligarchs), it can never… Kaya ‘yung iba diyan, hindi ko tinanggap ‘yung election contribution ninyo, campaign funds (That’s why I did not accept their election contribution or campaign funds). I never regretted it or I do not regret it. Pagdating ng panahon, yari kayong lahat (When the time comes, you are all doomed),” he said.

Duterte also urged Filipino voters to be cautious when selecting the country’s next leaders, warning people them against election candidates who are tainted with corruption.

He warned the electorate against party-list groups that are in alliance with the communist movement and those “controlled” by the rich.

“Until the end of the day, on my last day, I would continue to criticize and say something about itong mga party-list at hindi lang ang left (these party-lists that are not just Left-leaning groups). Ito ay ginagamit ng mga mayaman, lahat ng mga may negosyante, either binili nila ‘yung party-list or nag-create sila (The rich who have a business are either buying them or creating a party-list) because they can do it with the money and that has become a problem,” he said.

This comes as he confirmed that the party-list groups Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and Gabriela, or the so-called “KABAG,” are collaborating with the communist movement to topple the government.

Duterte urged fellow Filipinos not to vote for the “KABAG” party-list groups running for re-election in the May 9 polls.

“Fractured na tayo (We’re already fractured), it’s a fractured constitution. Biro mo (Imagine), who allowed itong ganitong (such) party-lists)?” he said. “Iyong mali nila, ang malaking –pinakamalaking krimen, iyan ito sinusuportahan ng mga party-list… Huwag ninyong iboto ‘yan kaya kung iboto ninyo ‘yang party-list (That’s their mistake – it’s the biggest crime for the the party-lists to support [the communists]…Don’t vote those party-lists).”

Duterte stated in October 2021 that his ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), did not receive any financial support from the oligarchs.

He said this while claiming that mainstream political parties, including the opposition Liberal Party, were “financed by oligarchs”.

In March of last year, Duterte declared that he would “dismantle the oligarchs ‘controlling’ the government”.