Ex-DSWD chief Soliman: Duterte accountable for Marcos burial

MANILA, Philippines – Former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for the heroes burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos during the mass protest in the People Power Monument on Wednesday, November 30. 

“Marcos is not a hero. He does not deserve to be buried in the heroes’ cemetery. President Duterte should be held accountable for opening up this issue,” Soliman told Rappler.

Soliman was a 19-year-old University of the Philppines student when Martial Law was declared. Her sister was jailed for leading protests while she was surrounded by soldiers during her organizing work.

“This would not happen if he didn’t permit it. Why did he allow the Marcos burial when it is clear that he was a thief and he committed a lot of human rights violations?” Soliman lamented.

The series of protests started with the Supreme Court decison to allow the burial of Marcos in the heroes cemetery. When the late dictator was buried on November 18, a series of lightning protests erupted, culminating in the November 25 movement in Luneta and the November 30 protest in the People Power Monument. 

‘Drug war weak’

Soliman also voiced concern on the promises made during the campaign Duterte has yet delivered. 

“It will be 6 months by December. The promises made are already being adjusted. He said that the drug problem will be finished in 6 months time. Now, he’s saying that he cannot deliver it in 6 months,” Soliman said. 

Duterte’s campaign platform was centered on eliminating the drug menace. The death toll from his controversial crackdown has climbed above 4,800, or roughly an average of 30 deaths a day since it began five months ago.

“The war on drugs is weak and lacks strategy. You won’t eliminate drugs by just giving names and telling the police to kill the users and pushers. It won’t end because drug use, according to experts, is caused by poverty, dysfunctional families, and other factors,” Soliman said.

The former DSWD chief added: “It’s only now that they are taking down the supply chains, the laboratories. For the first 3 months, all they did was to kill impoverished drug users. I am against that. This is not a humane way of solving the problem.”

Soliman was replaced by UP Professor Judy Taguiwalo to head DSWD, whom the former welcomed to the position with open arms. – Rappler.com