NANAWAGAN ang isang mataas na opisyal ng Department of National Defense (DND) sa sambayanang Pilipino na manatiling buo at nagkakaisa sa gitna ng naglalabasang ulat na may ilang grupo ang nagpaplano ngayon upang hatiin ang pamahalaan bilang isang bansa.

Ayon kay DND Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., ngayon ang panahon upang maipakita ang pagkakaisa ng lahat.

Inilabas ang pahayag na ito ni Faustino nang lumutang na naman ang ‘fake news’ na nagsasabing nag-resign na bilang executive secretary si Atty. Vic Rodriguez.

Ang ‘fake news’ na ito ay kaagad pinabulaanan ni Rodriguez nitong Biyernes nang personal nitong papasukin sa kanyang tanggapan sa Palasyo ang mga miyembro ng Malacanan Press Corps.

Sinabi ni Faustino na ang kanilang departamento ay isang ‘professional organization’ na mariing sumusunod sa mandato ng sambayanan bilang tagapagtanggol at tagapangalaga ng seguridad ng bansa.

Kasabay nito, tiniyak ng opisyal na bilang mga tapat na serbisyo publiko, ang buong hanay ng DND, kabilang ang mga sundalo, airmen, marines, at civilian human resources ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ay gagawin ng tama ang mga sinumpaan nilang tungkulin sa bayan.

“Importantly, we fully support the leadership of His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and his vision of a stronger and better Philippines through national unity, nation-building and economic recovery,” ani Faustino.

“Your Defense Department is cognizant of the need for cohesiveness as a people to achieve our desired goal. Hence, the recent innuendos against the Honorable Executive Secretary, Victor Rodriguez, or against any person for that matter, is an assault to his honor,” wika pa niya.

Binigyang-diin nito ang anumang hakbangin para paghati-hatiin ang bansa ay hindi maganda upang maiahon sa kahirapan ang mamamayang Pilipino at mapaunlad ang bansa.

“As a dignified people, we should protect our societal integrity. Thus, I respectfully enjoin every Filipino to stand united behind our country’s leadership,” dagdag pa ni Faustino.

Samantala, inihayag naman ng dean ng University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law at ng Quezon City Trial Lawyers League, Inc. (QCTLLI) ang kanilang buong suporta sa administrasyong Marcos at sa buong gabinete na pinamumunuan ni ES Vic.

Sinabi ni UST dean Nilo Divina na hindi maganda para sa bansa ang pagkakahati ng ating mga kababayan.

“I issue this statement with sincerity and conviction in my personal capacity as a concerned citizen,” pahayag nito noong nagdaang linggo. “

“As we sail towards progress as one nation, let us all remember that we are in the same boat. We need to unite behind our captain and his crew to reach our destination,” Sabi pa niya.

Ang kumpiyansa at tiwalang ibinibigay ni PBBM kay ES Vic ay Dapat galangin at irespeto ng lahat.

“Part of this confidence comes from knowing first-hand that one of President Marcos’s first appointees and one of the key public officials in our country, the Honorable Executive Secretary, Victor Rodriguez, has a profound sense of integrity and love for this country. Vic, who was my student in the University of Santo Tomas, has an extensive knowledge of the law and excellent management skills,” wika pa ni Divina

Para sa mahigpit 500 law practitioners na miyembro
QCTLLI, walang maidudulot na maganda kung maghahati ang lahat lalo’t sinisiraan ang executive Secretary ni PBBM.

“Our country needs a reliable, dependable, and work-oriented person like him (Rodriguez) to help and provide our President all-out and unselfish assistance in his Herculean task of delivering public service geared towards economic recovery and poverty reduction,” pahayag pa ng mga ito.

Anila, “cooperation is needed to rebuild the country’s economy, fortify the ramparts of the democratic system and attain social harmony. Together, let us all work for a better and stronger Philippines.”