Rody hits Leila, Kiko for ‘wishing’ his death

MANILA, Philippines -  President Duterte yesterday lambasted two opposition senators who challenged him to reveal the true state of his health, accusing them of eagerly waiting for his death.

Duterte said Senators Leila de Lima and Francis Pangilinan, who have been critical of the President’s policies, do not really care about his health condition.

“De Lima said I should tell the truth about where I was for two days. She said I should not lie to the nation. De Lima is only interested to hear about my death. She does not care if I live,” Duterte told reporters in Cagayan de Oro City yeserday. 

“Ang hinihintay lang niyan sabihin na namatay na si Duterte. Mag-ambak-ambak ’yan doon sa selda niya (She is awaiting word about Duterte’s death. She will be jumping for joy inside her prison cell),” he added.

De Lima was arrested and jailed in February for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

She was accused of receiving campaign funds from jailed drug lords.

The senator has denied the allegations and claimed that she was being persecuted for criticizing the Duterte administration.

Duterte said he is not convinced that Pangilinan is concerned about his health condition.

“Why would they care if I die today or tomorrow? If I get sick or tired? Your only interest is to know where I am and whether or not I am dying or dead,” the President said. 

“I do not believe that you are concerned about me, Kiko,” he added, referring to Pangilinan by his nickname.

Duterte was not seen in public for five days last week, triggering speculations that he was sick. He ended his five-day hiatus on June 17 when he attended the 50th anniversary of Agusan del Norte and visited the 4th Infantry Division Advance Command in Butuan City.

Duterte earlier said he went to Mindanao on a secret trip but also admitted that he had some rest.  

The President chided De Lima and his other critics for questioning his decision to declare martial law in Mindanao.

“De Lima was asking why I included other places. She forgot that Davao City suffered an explosion that killed so many people,” he said.

Fourteen people died when a bomb exploded at a night market in Davao City last year.

Palace hits Tatad

Malacañang also scored former senator Francisco Tatad, who wrote in a newspaper column that Duterte had suffered a mild stroke and was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan.

Tatad also claimed that the President had undergone treatment for a kidney disorder.

“You know, the President stood up. He showed himself. Kit Tatad may just be creating fantasies,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “Kit Tatad must be sourcing something that nobody knows about.”

Last January, Tatad said he received reports that Duterte had traveled to China to meet with doctors of the Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou.