A vlogger based in Davao City was saddened on how his friends criticized President Rodrigo Duterte on social media.
Chito Samontina writes his thoughts on his Facebook page, saying that his friends who opposed the government are welcome to criticize the government, but he asked them to be respectful to the chief executive.
He explained that it’s really hard to see that his father figure, President Duterte was being disrespected by his critics.
Samontina also explained that their admiration for the Presidente is not ‘idolatry’, saying that they’re only considering the Duterte’s as their family.
President Duterte became the Mayor of Davao for more than two decades and transformed the said city in one of the richest and safest places in the Philippines.
Even today, the Duterte family dominated the politics in Davao City.
You can read his post below:
“I still have friends who are self-proclaimed dilawans. By friends, I meant in real life. I never unfollowed them because I respect their views.
Criticizing is fine. Totally fine. It’s our right. We all have the right to demand good governance.
However, if you trashtalk the man I always look up to, it hurts.
It hurts knowing that most of you would wait for his speeches only to make fun of him.
It hurts because the man you make fun of is the man I grew up to as a father figure. You will never understand that. Waking up every Sunday with his typical disciplinarian way of talking — you will never understand that.
You will never feel how I felt when I finally faced the man and stared at me and said, “unsa manang naa sa imong dalunggan” (what’s with your ears), pertaining to my ear tunnels. The same reaction when my biological father saw my tattoo. You will never understand that.
Do not call it idolatry.
Because you will never understand how that man changed our lives in Davao City.
If you think Dabawenyos are idolizing him, you’re wrong. We’re like a family here. It is love that he’d shown that made us love him back. It is also called respect. Big respect.
So please, when you call us dutertards by respecting that man, do not mistake it as idolatry.
Furthermore, be respectful when criticizing because it is painful when I see your posts degrading the man I respect. It hurts and that’s why most of us fight back. I’m sorry if we do.
But I hope this time you understand.
You never heard from me personally trashtalking your yellow leaders.
I hope you could do the same.
You see a clown, we see a hard-working erpat.
Big love,
A son of Davao City”
As of writing, Samontina’s post already reached 4,500 shares on social media.
Source: [1]