Joma taunts Duterte, calls him an oligarch

From GMA News Online (Jul 14, 2020): Joma taunts Duterte, calls him an oligarch

President Rodrigo Duterte was wrong in believing he ended the rule of the oligarchs in the country as he himself is one of them, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said.
“Duterte either has gone crazy or pretends not to know the meaning of the term, oligarchy. It means the rule of the few. He is the chief political representative of the oligarchy of big compradors, landlords and bureaucrat capitalists in the Philippines,” the exiled communist leader said.

Sison’s views were sought after Duterte, in a speech aired Tuesday, stated he dismantled the country's oligarchy without declaring martial law.

The President did not mention names, but his remarks came a few days after the legislative franchises committee of the House of Representatives voted against the grant of franchise to ABS-CBN forcing the network to close down operations.

His spokesperson, Harry Roque, clarified the President referred to tycoon Lucio Tan, the Ayalas and Manuel V. Pangilinan who earned Duterte’s ire in the past due to some issues.

“Duterte's closure of ABS-CBN does not mean the end of oligarchy, but the end of a broadcast network that allows criticism of the crimes of his regime,” Sison said.

“It is mainly and essentially an attack on the freedom of the press and advancement of his fascist agenda and his own cabal of oligarchs who are the worst oppressors and exploiters of the people,” he added.

Sison called Duterte as the “autocrat and tyrant among his fellow oligarchs.”

“Most of the oligarchs, especially the worst of them, are allied with him,” he said.

The communist leader warned that during the martial years under president Ferdinand Marcos “used state terrorism” to accumulate power and wealth.

“Duterte pretends not to know that he emulates Marcos by abusing his political power to enrich himself and his fellow oligarchs who collaborate with him in oppressing and exploiting the people,” Sison said.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/746916/joma-taunts-duterte-calls-him-an-oligarch/story/