President Rodrigo Duterte discusses key issues on Sept. 11, 2018, with presidential spokesperon Salvador Panelo. (Photo by ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / Presidential Photograpers Division)
MANILA, Philippines — The allegation that President Rodrigo Duterte is the “biggest” bully in the Philippines is the perception only of his detractors and not the public in general, Malacañan Palace said Sunday.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement amid public outrage over the now viral video of an Ateneo junior high school student bullying a fellow student inside a school toilet.
Many condemned the incident but tagged Duterte as the “biggest” and “number one” bully in the country.
On Twitter, Gideon Lasco, a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said: “Duterte is the country’s bully-in-chief and we cannot be mere spectators.”
Also on Twitter, Carlos Conde, the Philippines’ researcher for Human Rights Watch Asia Division, called Duterte “our worst bully ever.”
Twitter user @benyacult said the country has “a bigger bully to defeat” and “that’s Duterte.”
For @erwindlp, “we also need to raise our voices againt the number 1 bully, no other than Duterte.”
Twitter user @MickaiLeano said “the biggest bully is Duterte.”
In a text message, Panelo dismissed these comments and said these were not the public perception but comments of the President and his administration’s critics.
“Public perception? Maybe from his and the administration’s detractors,” he said.
Panelo earlier said that the President was “not a bully” after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle condemned as bullies those who use their power to abuse others.
READ: Palace: Duterte is not the ‘bully’ in Tagle’s sermon
“Do not belittle others.That you are in high office does not mean you have the right to trample others. You will never be happy that way,” Tagle said.
“In truth, a bully, someone who uses his power to belittle others, is a fearful and insecure person,” he added.
Known for his foul language and expletive-laden speeches, the President has mocked the Catholic Church and even urged people to kill the bishops.
The Palace later clarified that the President’s “kill” remark was only a “hyperbole” for “dramatic effect.”
READ: Kill bishops? Palace says that’s only hyperbole, for ‘dramatic effect’
Duterte is also fond of threatening and mocking his critics, who have slammed his brutal war on drugs and anti-criminality campaign. /atm