Chel Diokno willing to duet with Aguilar

Human rights lawyer and Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno has expressed willingness to have a song duet with fellow senatorial candidate veteran singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno expressed willingness to have a song duet with fellow senatorial candidate and veteran singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar.

“Never pa kami nag-meet. (We never met yet),” Diokno told Inquirer in Friday during the campaign sortie of Otso Diretso in Bohol together with fellow candidates Romy Macalintal, Gary Alejano, and Samira Gutoc.

If by chance he would meet Aguilar, he said he would introduce himself and asked the singer for a duet.

“Siyempre kakamayan natin yan, magpapakilala ako sa kanya. Baka puwede kami mag-duet. (Of course, I will shake his hands, introduce myself, and ask if we can have a duet),” said Diokno.

Diokno said he had no personal issues with Aguilar.

“Wala naman po akong personal issue kay Freddie Aguilar. Sinasagot ko lang ang sinasabi ni Pangulo. Alam niyo marami pong binabanggit na salita si Pangulo tungkol sa akin,” he said.

(I have no personal issues with Freddie Aguilar. I only responded to what the President is saying. You know the President has said much about me).

Diokno thanked President Duterte for giving him the “free airtime” he needs during the campaign season.

Diokno, along with other Otso Diretso bets, has been criticized by President Duterte while campaigning for the administration senatorial candidates.

At one point, President Duterte compared Aguilar to Diokno.

Aguilar responded saying Diokno degraded his contribution to the music industry.

“Iba po ako . I’m a composer, I’m an artist. I am considered an intellectual, ‘yun po ang tawag saming mga composer. Ano pong tawag kay Diokno? Joke, he’s a joke. Hindi niya nga nadifferentiate ang karaoke at saka art eh,” he said.