De Lima hits crackdown on online Duterte critics

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Monday slammed the arrest of individuals who criticized President Duterte online, calling it “double standard at its worst.”

In a dispatch from Camp Crame where she is currently detained due to drug-related charges, De Lima said it was “very disturbing” that the country’s law enforcment agencies “are training their guns on online Duterte critics.”

“Hindi ito ang tamang panahon—at walang tamang panahon—na maging ganito kababaw at balat-sibuyas ang mga nanunungkulan sa gobyerno,” she said.

(This is not the right time—and there is no right time—for government officials to be shallow and onion-skinned).

“Imbes na tutukan ang pagtulong sa mga apektado ng COVID-19, online tokhang ang pinagkakaabalahan. Ano ‘yon? Akala ba nila kapag naaresto ang pumupuna ay mawawala ang problema?” she added.

(Instead of focusing on helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcers are busy with online tokhang, What will that do? Do they think that arresting critics will solve the problem?)

Earlier, a public school teacher was arrested for offering a P50-million reward for anyone who could kill Duterte.

Meanwhile, a salesman from Agusan del Norte was nabbed for calling Duterte “buang” (fool) and criticizing his long-time aide, Senator Bong Go.

“At ang lagay ba: Kapag si Duterte ang nagbanta, namahiya, nagmura, nagpapatay, nagpakulong sa isang inosente, tatahimik na lang tayo? Kapag kaalyado nila ang lumabag, maawa na lang tayo? Pero kapag kritiko at ordinaryong Pilipino, parusa at kulong agad?” De Lima said.

( If it is Duterte who threatens, humiliates, curse,s kills, and detains the innocent, we will just remain silent? But if it’s a critic or an ordinary person, they will immediately face punishment?)

“Hypocrites! Double standard at its worst. What we need right now, especially during this time of crisis, is an equal protection and application of the law,” she added.

The senator, meanwhile, cited the case of a Taiwan-based Filipina caregiver who criticized the President for his response against he coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

A Philippine labor official attempted to have her deported over her “nasty” posts against Duterte but the Taiwanese government invoked the Filipina workers’s right to freedom of speech.

The senator, one of the staunchest critics of the President,  urged the public to protest what she said is an “assault on our fundamental freedom of expression.”

 GSG