Chel Diokno thanks Duterte for remembering his father
MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer and Otso Diretso senatorial bet Chel Diokno thanked the President for remembering his father, the late democracy icon Sen. Jose “Pepe” W. Diokno.
“Actually, magpasalamat pa nga ako na nabanggit niya ang aking ama, naalala pa niya ang aking ama. At sana maalala din niya na ang aking ama ang sinasabing, itinuturing na ama ng karapatang pantao sa ating bayan,” Chel said in a statement on Tuesday.
(Actually, I am thankful that he mentioned my father and he remembered him. I hope he also recalls that my father is considered the father of human rights in our country.)
On Monday, the 73-year-old leader mocked Chel’s manner of speaking, comparing the Otso Diretso candidate to his father.
“Lalo na ito si Diokno, ‘yung Diokno ‘yung… Sus magsalita. Kalayo niya sa tatay niya. ‘Yung si W. Diokno,” Duterte said. “Tignan mo magsalita. Wala. Walang ka ano.”
(This Diokno…when he speaks, he is quite far from his father – W. Diokno. Pay attention to how he talks…)
READ: Duterte mocks opposition slate: ‘Otso Diretso’ to ‘hell’
Chel shrugged off Duterte’s comments, noting that the President must look into Pepe Diokno’s advocacy of protecting human rights of all Filipinos.
“Talagang kailangan natin na igalang ang karapatan ng lahat, lalong lalo na ng mga mahihirap. Hindi naman puwedeng sabihin na mura lang ang buhay nila dahil ang buhay ng lahat ng tao ay mahalaga, mayaman man o maliit na tao,” Chel said.
(We need to respect people’s rights, especially the poor. We cannot say that life is cheap because every life is important, rich or poor.)
“At dapat isulong mismo ng ating pamahalaan ang paggalang sa dignidad ng tao, pati sa mga kababihan, at paggalang din sa ating lahat ng pangangailangan ng bayan,” he added.
(The government should push respects for the dignity of people, the women especially, as well as respect for the needs of the country.)
Chel’s father, Pepe Diokno, was among the first to be detained by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos after martial law was declared in 1972. /ee
