MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged Filipinos to cooperate with the administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, as he slammed online petitions for Duterte's resignation just weeks before he is set to officially take over as the new Philippine president.
Cayetano, Duterte's running mate during the 2016 campaign, made the call before thousands of Duterte supporters who came for the mayor's thanksgiving party in Davao City on Saturday, June 4.
Cayetano said Duterte's critics are now launching online petitions urging the president-elect to resign even before he is officially sworn.
"Ngayon pa lang mayroon pa ring madudumi ang isip at iniisip. Hindi pa nakaupo ang aming pangulo, gusto nang umalis sa puwesto," Cayetano said.
(This early, many still entertain evil thoughts. Our president is not yet a sitting president, but they already want him out of his position.)
He added, "Mayroon nang nagsisimula ng petition na 'Duterte resign.' Bakit? Dahil gustong tanggalin ni Duterte ang krimen?"
(Some have already started a petition for Duterte to resign. Why? Because Duterte wants to stop crime?)
Protect Duterte
The senator also called on the people to cooperate with the new administration, and to protect the president-elect.
One such petition on Change.org was started by popular Filipino tour guide Carlos Celdran, who was a vocal supporter of Duterte's rival Manuel Roxas II in the presidential race.
The petition urged Duterte not to take on the job as president because he has proven himself to be "unworthy, unstable, and unfit to run a nation of 100 million people."
"You yourself have said that you will not die if you weren't president. As a man of honor, keep your word. Do not accept the job as President of the Philippines. Please resign," it read.
In recent days, Duterte has faced a slew of controversies, ranging from his controversial comments on media killings– saying corrupt journalists deserved to die – and his catcalling of female reporters in his press conferences.
Duterte's allies have jumped to his defense, saying the president-elect was misinterpreted. – Rappler.com