Press Release
September 29, 2018

Duterte worse dictator than Marcos - De Lima

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has maintained that Mr. Duterte's abusive record has become worse than that of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos despite the glaring similarities of their leadership style.

De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, said that just like Marcos, Duterte thinks that he is above the law and can go scot-free despite the crimes he committed against his people.

"May Marcos noon; may Duterte ngayon. Hindi maikakaila ang mga pagkakapareho nila," she said, citing some of their similarities such as "parehong nagdeklara ng Batas Militar. Parehong abusado sa kapangyarihan. Parehong nagpapatay ng libu-libong Pilipino. Parehong ginipit ang mga kritiko," she said.

"Sa ilalim ng kani-kanilang pamumuno ay bumagsak ang ekonomiya, nagtaasan ang presyo ng mga bilihin, nawalan ng trabaho ang marami, at may higit pang bilang ang hindi tiyak ang hanapbuhay at pabahay. Parehong berdugo ng mahihirap. Parehong pahirap," she added.

According to the Senator, Duterte is not simply Marcos Version 2 because "in just a matter of a little more than two years into his presidency, Duterte has proven to be a worse monster than his idol. He is a foul-mouthed, chronically lying, incurably misogynistic, criminally-minded, and shameless fascist and tyrant."

De Lima made the statement during the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under the Marcos regime last Sept. 21, which saw 15,000 protesters marched from different assembly points in Metro Manila and converged at Rizal Park while chanting, "Never Again to Martial Law!"

According the Amnesty International, about 70,000 people were detained, at least 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed during martial law under the Marcos regime.

Alarmingly, more than 23,000 have reportedly been killed either through the so-called "legitimized" police operations or vigilante style executions with only about two years into Mr. Duterte's term.

As such, the Senator from Bicol urged the Filipino people to continue fighting the return of an authoritarian rule and have the courage to speak out against the injustices happening under the Duterte regime.

"So, what do we do now? How do we ensure that the lessons under Marcos dictatorship will not be forgotten, and that the tragic experiences we are suffering under the current tyranny of Duterte will be stopped?" she asked.

"The simple answer: We fight! We fight with what's remaining in our democracy. We fight with what's intact in our dignity. Demokrasya at dignidad. Yan ang ating gagamitin sa laban. Yan din ang ating ipaglalaban," she added.

Along with the Filipino people, De Lima vowed to never stop exposing the true Marcosian and Dutertian agenda of perpetuating themselves in power in perpetuity by "remaining relentless in fighting authoritarianism anytime and all the time."

News Latest News Feed