MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday savaged the senatorial candidates of the opposition slate during a campaign rally for his political party’s lineup in Zamboanga City.
Duterte said the candidates of the Otso Diretso slate—a lineup composed of Liberal Party bets and candidates of other groups in the political opposition—do nothing but criticize the administration.
“Sinong ipalit mo diyan sa ‘yang ‘Otso Diretso’ papuntang impyerno? Totoo lang, hindi ako na-ano. If eh, walang ginawa ‘yang mga tao na ‘yan puro criticize, hindi pa maniwala,” he said in a speech Sunday.
(Who will you vote instead of that ‘Otso Diretso’ who will go straight to hell? To be honest, I’m not… Those people do nothing but criticize and they don’t even believe you.)
The opposition slate, which is backed by Vice President Leni Robredo and other leaders of the LP, is composed of Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list ), Sen. Bam Aquino, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc.
Also on the slate are former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and former Rep. Erin Tañada (Quezon).
Duterte calls out each opposition bet
One after another, the chief executive lashed out at the candidates of the eight-member ticket.
Duterte described Roxas as “hambugero” (arrogant) and questioned his former rival’s contributions to the country.
“Nadaanan man niya lahat ‘yan. Tapos porma. Ano ang nagawa niya? Bigyan mo ako isa, maski isa lang,” the president said.
(He went through every position. What did he do? Give me one achievement, even just one.)
Roxas helmed the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the Aquino administration. He was also a senator and a member of the House of Representatives before that.
As for Aquino, Duterte said he only looked like his uncle former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and also raised questions on the senator’s legislative record.
“Ano bang significant na nagawa mo? What have you done that is really impressive? Puro kayo oposisyon, puro kayo saway?” the president said.
(What have you done that is significant? What have you done that is really impressive? All you do is oppose and rebuke.)
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The chief executive also mocked Diokno’s manner of speaking, saying he is no match to his father, former Sen. Jose Diokno.
Duterte belittled the coup attempts led by Alejano, then a Navy officer, and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV against the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He, also, accused Tañada of being a leftist. Tañada is the vice president for external affairs of the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party.
As for Macalintal, Duterte said: “Abugado ka lang kung may pera ka.” (You are only a lawyer if you have money).
Duterte also questioned the qualification of Hilbay as he praised his former presidential adviser for political affairs Francis Tolentino. Hilbay was a key figure in the country’s legal team that argued for, and won, the landmark ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim over the West Philippine Sea.
The president, however, spared Gutoc from his harsh words. He said it is his “rule” not to bad-mouth a woman he considers his enemy.
“Si Samira, babae man ‘yan, ayaw ko magsalita diyan. Eh ganun ‘yan ang rule eh pagka babae kalaban mo, you just shut up. Samira Ali Gutoc, so I have nothing to say to you, ma’am,” he said.
(Samira, she’s a woman, I don’t want to talk about her. That’s the rule, if your enemy is a woman, you just shut up. Samira Ali Gutoc, so I have nothing to say to you, ma’am.)