DAYS after its launch, more citizens are joining and signing an online petition calling for President Rodrigo Duterte’s resignation over what has been aptly described as a dismal failure in handling both the pandemic and territorial sovereignty against China.
Interviewed on television, Dr. Edelina De La Paz, chairperson of the Health Alliance for Democracy said that they have so far gathered 50,000 signatures for the petition calling for Duterte’s resignation.
“This statement will attest that people are no longer satisfied. If he doesn’t step down, then at least, the positive effect of this is it has made more people aware, made more people to be able to stand up and speak up,” Dela Paz said.
Dubbed as “Save the Nation! Duterte Resign!” initially had 500 medical workers, lawyers, businessmen, members of the academe, media workers and civic leaders signing it, added Dela Paz, who emphasized that the petition is not a political statement but an authentic call for the President to step down.
“Yes because the situation is already too much. You have the pandemic, which is worsening. One year na tayong naka-lockdown, wala namang nangyayari,” she said.
“Tapos ang sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea is so volatile that really a policy has to be imposed. Those islands are ours. Ang nakakabahala pa, payag siyang ipalit ang soberanya natin para lang sa bakuna,” the lead petitioner added.
The Philippines is close to breaching the one million mark of COVID-19 infections. Of this figure, 15,000 have died while active cases stood at 200,000.
Another reason for which citizens are joining the resignation call for the President is the alleged subservience to China. For the past weeks, Philippine officials have also filed diplomatic protests against China’s latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea, with dozens of Chinese militia vessels spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef.