‘Admin not engaged in political harassment, PBBM hates trouble’
HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun, one of the Young Guns leaders, has taken up the cudgels for the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on insinuations the national government prevented a purported peace rally of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Bustos town in the province of Bulacan.
“Even if we rewind it from the time President Marcos ran his campaign in 2022, he was even singled out among the candidates for not attending debates and the like, but he just went on and let his critics be, he just let them do what they think was right for them,” Khonghun recalled.
“How much more now that he is already President? It’s the last thing his administration needs – political polarization. Remember, he and now Vice President Sara Duterte even ran on the theme of unity, which they coined as UniTeam,” Khonghun pointed out.
Khonghun, a congressman from Zambales’ first district and a member of the House of Representatives’ so-called “Young Guns,” also cited the personal grudges that developed between VP Duterte and his lawyer-wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, which he just learned to live with.
“Every administration has its own share of hits and misses, and perhaps this government is no exception. But to say that the national government is engaged in harassment is simply unfair,” he said, adding the Duterte camp even held rallies in Cebu, Davao and Tagum cities in the past.
“What the President has been repeating is for government to unite in order to achieve the goals that we all want,” Khonghun stressed, refuting allegations of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque that their April 28 “Majisug Peace Rally” – or “Brave Peace Rally” was called off in Bulacan to avert any potential trouble.
“What we’re saying is that while you may disagree with some policies of the government, you can always demonstrate your gripes in a very decent and respectful way,” Khonghun suggested, urging former President Duterte supporters to “stop destabilizing” the government.
“It’s time to unite, we have so many problems to solve – from inflation to conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.”he said.
Roque served in the Duterte cabinet. He ran but lost in the May 2022 senatorial race under the Uniteam of President Marcos.
