Roxas to Duterte: Gun duel, slapping match have no place in political discourse
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte and Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas urged Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to stop the mudslinging as the idea of engaging in a gun duel or a slapping match shouldn’t have a place in political discourse.
Instead, they should focus on presenting their platforms in improving the lives of Filipinos.
“Mayor Digong, let’s level up. Our people deserve better. Itong tapunan, itong putikan, itong kasinungalingan ay walang lugar sa ating political discourse. Ano bang plano mo? Anong nagawa mo? ‘Yun at ‘yun naman lang ang dapat na napag-uusapan dito para makapagpasya nang tama ang ating mga kababayan,” said Roxas in an ambush interview at Cebu City.
But this doesn’t mean Roxas is backing out from Duterte’s challenge.
“Iwan na natin siguro ang usapin tungkol sa pamamaril, sa sampalan, sa karahasan. Malinaw, hindi ko uurungan si Mayor Duterte sa kahit anong hamunan. Malinaw na hindi ako takot sa kanya at haharapin ko siya,” he said.
The heated war of words between the two presidential aspirants started when Roxas dismissed as a “myth” that it is peaceful and safe in Davao City. Duterte hit back at Roxas, claiming that the former Interior secretary Wharton degree is fake.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman importante sa akin kung ano ang paningin niya kung nag-graduate ako o hindi. Eh nasa record naman. Nasa internet, nasa alumni book, nasa record mismo ng eskwelahan na nag-graduate ako. Hindi naman ito pataasan lang ng yabang o kung anuman, hindi ba?” he said.
All these fistfight and gun duel, according to the administration’s presidential bet, will not benefit 100 million Filipinos.
Taking a swipe at the tough-talking mayor, Roxas said a leader should set an example to the youth by respecting the rights of people to live as well as the dignity of women.
“Kaya lahat itong mga usapin na ito balewala ito. Itong mga barilan, suntukan—hindi ito importante sa buhay ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Kaya isyu ang pag-usapan natin. Saan ba natin dadalhin ang bansa natin ang dapat na napag-uusapan at hindi kung may problema tayo dito, baril, may problema tayo doon, baril ang solusyon,” he said.
