MANILA – National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Ronald Cardema has no plan to apologize and step down from his post following a controversial comment he made on removing the scholarship of students participating in rallies against the government.
Cardema said in a television interview that those calling for his resignation were misinformed. He was only proposing the removal of the scholarships of those found by security forces to have taken up arms in rebellion against the government, he clarified.
“Definitely I will not resign,” Cardema said over ONE News Channel. “We did not say all, and I always specifically mention that it’s okay to rally and to voice out dissent.”
Cardema on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order removing the scholarships of “all rebellious anti-government scholars.”
Cardema’s proposal drew criticism from both allies and critics of the government, with Malacañang saying that dissent is a valid exercise of people’s right to freedom of speech, expression and assembly.
“We are a government of laws, not of speculations. Kailangan mayroon tayong ebidensya na parte nga sila ng grupo na laban sa gobyerno,” said Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
He added: “Unless you can show concrete evidence that they are really part of those who are against this government hindi naman pu-pwede iyon.”
Expressing dissent against government policies is part of democracy, said Panelo./PN
