Duterte curses N. Cotabato’s Mendoza on ‘politicizing’ Kidapawan incident

Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

DAVAO CITY – Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte spewed another string of curses. This time aimed at North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza for calling out politicians for allegedly using the Kidapawan incident as a political staging ground.

At least two farmers, one of them believed to have been shot at close range while raising his arms, were killed and at least 116 others were wounded after the police dispersed a barricade of drought-stricken farmers in Kidapawan City on April 1.

The Davao City Council on Tuesday approved the release of P31.5 million, which will be used to purchase 15,000 sacks of rice for the farmers of North Cotabato as requested by Duterte.

The farmers have demanded 15,000 sacks of rice before they were violently dispersed.

Earlier, Mendoza said it will be a big insult for the people of North Cotabato if political candidates will use the humanitarian situation for their campaign.

READ: Duterte vows to aid Kidapawan farmers

Speaking to reporters in Davao City on Thursday, an infuriated Duterte slammed Mendoza and the Liberal Party for floating such idea.

“May gusto akong sabihin kay Lala (Mendoza). T***** mo, wala akong pakialam diyan, l**** ka,” Duterte said.

(I have something to say to Lala Mendoza. [Invective] I have no business there, [invective].)

Duterte said that he has no intention of utilizing the aid given to the farmers as a move for political campaigning.

“Huwag mo ngang sabihing epal-epal ako. Kayo ang epal diyan, Liberal,” added Duterte.

“Never, never ako nag-epal epal sa buhay ko,” Duterte said.

(Don’t call me “epal”. You’re the ones who are “epal,” Liberal.

I have never been an “epal” in my life.)

In a humanitarian situation, there must be no malice in providing help for the needy, Duterte said.

“Huwag mo akong maliin. Maski na papano, assuming galing Davao ‘yan, bakit ka magagalit na magtanggap ‘yung mga tao ng makakain. Why? What is fundamentally wrong if somebody writes my name [on] a sack of rice and gives it to the people na naroon? Eh sabi nila gutom, eh sabi ninyo merong bigas, eh di bigyan ninyo,” Duterte said.

(Don’t get me wrong. Assuming that it came from Davao, why would you get angry if people receive something to eat? Why? What is fundamentally wrong if somebody writes my name on a sack of rice and gives it to the people there? They said they were hungry, and you said there’s rice, then give it to them.)

READ: Aquino to blame for Kidapawan dispersal, says Duterte aide

Similar efforts were done by the city when the local government sent teams of rescuers, social workers and relief supply to communities affected by Typhoons Pablo and Yolanda.

Mendoza, however, clarified that her message must be not misinterpreted and she only said it to urge politicians not to use the situation for their campaigns.

Mendoza also said that she was thankful for the help from the Davao City government.

“I’m happy that it went through the right process. I’m happy that the assistance would be coursed through the Red Cross, and I’m sure this will go straight to the farmers. Thank you,” Mendoza told the Inquirer by phone.

Mendoza earlier said she will not give rice directly to the protesting farmers as these should be distributed in the barangays (villages). CDG

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