Castelo rallies behind President Duterte
SINGER and former Quezon City Councilor Anthony Castelo, who is the president of Dakilang Lahi Foundation, said President Rodrigo Duterte meant all Filipinos, including those against his administration when the former Davao City mayor-turned-first chief executive from Mindanao said,”’I love the Philippines and the people of this country.”
Castelo made the statement during an extended Father’s Day luncheon hosted by Mayor Nelson Traje of Macalelon, Quezon Province. An ardent supporter of Duterte, Castelo said that as Father of the Nation, he knows the President feels the same pain of heart every time he receives reports of casualties either from the side of the military or the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Because we’re killing each other and both sides are shedding Filipino blood, rightfully so, President Duterte has endorsed the Anti-Terrorism Bill as an urgent measure in support of the government’s fight against rebel forces as well as local and international terrorist organizations,” Castelo added. Castelo recalled that since the start of his term, the President has extended a hand of peace with rebel forces countless of times to no avail. However, he said he also understands the homegrown armed group’s age-long call for social justice and land reform which the President continues to address. “Duterte inherited extraordinary problems that require extraordinary solutions. The Anti-Terrorism Bill was designed to be a strong provision of law against terrorist organizations — not against protesters, dissenters or anyone who just freely express their sentiments in a democracy like the Philippines. In fact, it is meant to protect their rights and distinguish them from real terrorists, contrary to the opposition’s claim,” the singer and former Quezon City councilor stressed.