Duterte: Otso Diretso bound straight for hell

Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:22:43 +0000

President Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at Otso Diretso’s candidates for the Senate, saying they would go straight to hell for their endless criticism of his administration.

Speaking at a rally of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Zamboanga City on Sunday, Duterte said the opposition’s candidates did nothing but to criticize him and his policies.

Otso Diretso senatorial bets (from left) Romy Macalintal, Pilo Hilbay, Samira Gutoc, Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th, Gary Alejano, and Chel Diokno. PHOTO BY ROGER RAÑADA

“Sinong ipalit mo diyan sa ‘Otso Diretso’ papuntang impyerno (Whom will you vote for in a place of that Eight Straight to hell)?” Duterte said, referring to the Otso Diretso slate, a line-up composed of Liberal Party (LP)bets and candidates of other groups critical of his administration.

“Totoo lang, walang ginawa ‘yang mga tao na ‘yan puro criticize, (To be honest, those people nothing but criticize),” he added.

Backed by Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, the opposition’s eight-man ticket is composed of Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, former Interior secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, former Quezon congressman Erin Tañada, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

The President also slammed the opposition slate for being supporters of communist rebels.

“Erin Tañada? Left. And proud sila diyan sa (they are proud of the) Left. They think that it’s popular. Kita mo kakapal ng mukha, nagawa pa ng ticket ‘Otso Diretso’ (they have no shame, they even included him in the Otso Diretso ticket),” he said.

The President compared his party’s Senate bet, his former political adviser Francis Tolentino, with Hilbay, who he said has no chance of winning against the former mayor of Tagaytay.

“Sino diyan makakatalo kay Tolentino (who among them can beat Tolentino) in terms of qualification? Magsabi ka ng kandidato (Mention those candidates), Macalintal, Hilbay, si Tañada?” he said.

Duterte also slammed Roxas, his defeated rival in the 2016 national elections, for his alleged arrogance.

“Mar Roxas. Susmaryosep. Hambugero man ito (Mar Roxas, my goodness. He’s arrogant)… sabi ko, tama ka na, Mar, yaya ka lang. Ewan ko kung gawain ninyong senador. Wala na ito. Napakita na niya. Kung ‘yung kampanya ipinakita niya ang the best niya, hindi siya manalo kay Bong (Enough, Mar. I don’t know if you’ll make him a senator.

He’s finished. If he showed his best in the past campaign, he wouldn’t win against Bong),” the President said, obviously referring to his former top aide, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

Duterte also accused Roxas of political turncoatism, saying the latter has done nothing despite holding different Cabinet posts in previous administrations.

Roxas was Trade secretary during the Estrada administration. He topped the Senate race in 2004 under the ticket of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and served as Transportation secretary and Interior secretary under then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

“Nadaanan man niya lahat ‘yan. Tapos porma. Ano ang nagawa niya? Bigyan mo ako isa. Maski isa lang (He has held all those positions. All forms, but what did he accomplish? Give me one, even just one),” he said.

As for Bam Aquino, Duterte said he only had an uncanny resemblance to his uncle, late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

“Ano bang significant na nagawa mo (What significant thing have you accomplished)? What have you done that is really impressive? Puro kayo oposisyon, puro kayo saway (All you do is oppose and rebuke),” he said.

The President also called out Alejano for his role in the unsuccessful mutinies led by then-Navy officer and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th against the Arroyo administration.

He said Alejano, who once pushed for his impeachment, makes no sense in his statements.

The President also mocked Diokno’s manner of speaking, saying he was nothing like his father, late former senator Jose “Pepe” Diokno.

Duterte, however, spared Gutoc, the only woman in the opposition slate, from his attacks, saying it was his “rule” not to bad-mouth a woman.

“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 (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),” the President said.

Duterte then compared the opposition Senate slate with his party’s candidates, claiming they pale in comparison and have not helped the Moros.

“Magpunta ‘yan doon sa Lanao. Ah wala, putulan ko ng ulo mga ‘to. Walang kuwentang mga tao. Wala namang nagawa para sa aming mga Moro (When they go to Lanao, I’ll behead them. These worthless people. They have done nothing for us Moros),” he said.

It was the first time the President stepped up his attacks against the Otso Diretso candidates in a campaign rally.

In previous speeches, Duterte only warned voters against electing “useless” candidates or those who do nothing but criticize.

The post Duterte: Otso Diretso bound straight for hell appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

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