De Lima to Panelo: Why hit me with ‘venomous intensity’ if I’m irrelevant

MANILA, Philippines—”Why do you still keep on hitting me with such venomous intensity?”

Senator Leila De Lima tossed this question at Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo who earlier called her an “irrelevant political entity trying to re-enter the public’s consciousness” by dishing out reckless and offensive rants against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Panelo’s remark stemmed from the opposition senator’s statement, claiming that the President is just “mighty in words, but inept in action” in dealing with terrorism.

READ: Palace: De Lima’s confinement has dulled her senses / Duterte’s threats ‘nothing but empty words to real terrorists’ — De Lima

“Mr. Panelo, if indeed I’m now irrelevant, trying to ‘reenter the public’s consciousness’ as you assert, why do you still keep on hitting me with such venomous intensity? You can just ignore me, right?” De Lima said in a statement Wednesday.

“And by the way, ranting is not your master’s exclusive domain. So please, cool off,” she added.

De Lima, who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame for drug-related charges, has been one of the President’s staunchest critics.  /muf