Duterte camp calls Roxas comic book ‘comical, pure fantasy’

The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte slammed political rival and administration presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for supposedly rewriting history through the publication of a comic book which featured Roxas’ life story.

In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, Duterte spokesman Peter Tiu Laviña said that the part of the comics where Roxas was depicted as a “hero” during the height of Super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013 is “pure fantasy.”

READ: Comic book showing ‘hero’ Roxas during ‘Yolanda’ draws flak

“The medium is the message. It is comical. Pure fantasy. C’mon let us not rewrite history,” Laviña said.

Duterte’s spokesman cited the observation made by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper days after the Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas to drive his point.

“CNN’s Anderson Cooper is a living witness on the ground. On the fifth day of the disaster, he tells the world ‘As for who exactly is in charge of the Philippine side of operations, that is not clear,’ while US marines (not to mention Davao’s 911) were already undertaking rescue and relief operations,” Laviña added.

The tough-talking mayor has earlier hit Roxas for allegedly being mum on how the government spent billions of Yolanda funds.

“They are silent about it. Gusto ko tanungin si Mar. Billion ang dumating sa bansa nung Yolanda, saan ang pera (I would like to ask Mar. Where are the billions of funds intended for ‘Yolanda’ victims?)” Duterte said in speech in Dagupan City last March 3.

The comic book, titled “Sa Gitna ng Unos,” tells the life story of Roxas. The storyline touched on the administration bet’s performance as a government official during the administrations of former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and in the Aquino administration.

Some panels in the comic book were devoted in debunking criticisms on Roxas’ performance during the aftermath of Yolanda and the Mamasapano operation.

The illustrator of the comic book, Karl Comendador, clarified that he was only doing his job and that he is supporting Duterte for president.

READ: Artist who made Roxas comic book is Duterte supporter

On his part, Roxas said that he sees nothing wrong with the publication of the comic book, which has since been bashed on social media. CDG

READ: Roxas fends off attacks by ‘villains’ on his comic book