“Duterte is a big joke.”
That was how a group of lawyers described Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign for Malacañang.
The group Abogado ni Binay (Anib) has formed a coalition to campaign against Duterte less than two weeks before Election Day.
“A nationwide coalition of organizations and concerned individuals is formed to ensure the democratic rights of the people are upheld and to prevent candidate Rodrigo Duterte from taking a hold at the presidency,” lawyer Vic Joyas, chairman of Anib said on Friday.
Lawyer Bong Jabla, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said Anib aims to educate Filipinos in choosing the right leader.
“Maybe we are hypnotized believing in this guy (Duterte). He is a big thief. He has unexplained wealth,” Jabla said.
“Our objective is to educate them. Please choose the right leader, what we need is not an impulsive leader. We need somebody who is sober, who is reasonable, who is calm, who has the wisdom, who is like a father to the Filipino people,” he said.
Another UNA secretary general, Danilo Roleda, has expressed fear regarding the future of the country if Duterte wins the presidency.
“Kami ay nababahala din sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa kung ang ating mamamayan ay nalilinlang, nalilihis at namamanipula sa mararaming pamamaraan na panloloko at pagsisinungaling ni Duterte,” Roleda said.
(We are also concerned about the future of our country if our people are deceived, misled and manipulated in the many ways of Duterte’s deceit and dishonesty.)
He said Duterte was not a good example to Filipinos, citing his habit of saying cuss words, womanizing and kissing women in public.
“Ang tanong ko sa mamamayan, bakit mayroon tayong kandidato na ang lakas magsalita ng mga mali, ang lakas ng loob magmura, ang lakas ng loob sa public, sa harap TV, sa camera na humahalik ng mga babae na lumalabas pa ang dila. Ang laswa tingnan lalo na sa mga kabataan,” he said.
(I ask the people, why do we have a candidate who speaks openly of falsehoods, who says cuss words, and who unabashedly–in public, on TV, in front of the camera–kisses women, even with his tongue out. It is lewd, especially for the youth.)
READ: Duterte speaks like a pimp, women’s rights group say
He said Duterte’s campaign is a “big joke” and not serious.
“Kung napapansin natin ang kampanya ni Duterte ay isang malaking biro, hindi seryoso,” he said.
(If you can notice, Duterte’s campaign is a big joke, it isn’t serious.)
Roleda lamented how most Filipinos support Duterte’s campaign as if it were a TV show.
“Kaya obligasyon at responsibilidad ng Anib at bawat isa sa atin na nakakaintindi na kailangan ipaliwnang natin, ipamulat natin sa mga mamamayan na hindi ito TV show, hindi ito biro,” he said.
(That is why it is the duty and responsibility of Anib and of each of us who understands that we have to explain, we have to open our people’s eyes that this is not a TV show, it’s not a joke.)
He said a Duterte presidency would not respect rule of law.
READ: Binay: You’ll regret voting for Duterte
He added Duterte should answer all the allegations hurled against him.
“Kay Duterte malinaw ang mga ebidensya—nandiyan, hindi gawa-gawa at hindi imbento. Pero kay Vice President Binay, wala namang napatunayan at puro alegasyon, wala naman napakitang dokumento,” he said, referring to UNA standard bearer and Duterte’s rival Vice President Jejomar Binay.
(With Duterte, the evidence is clear–it is there and not fabricated. But with Vice President Binay, nothing has been proven, it’s all allegation, no documents have been presented.)
READ: Binay chides Duterte over alleged P211M hidden wealth
Binay has faced strings of massive corruption allegations which he has repeatedly denied.
“Puro dekorasyon naman lahat mga yan. Ito kay Duterte, hindi dekorasyon, ang ebidensya, tototo. So sino nagyon dito ang corrupt? Sino dito ngayon ang nanloloko sa bayan?” Roleda said.
(It’s all decoration. But in Duterte’s case, there is evidence, it’s real. So, who, now, is corrupt? Who is deceiving the country?)
Duterte faces allegations of hidden wealth after Sern. Antonio Trillanes IV said the tough-talking mayor has over P200 million in a bank account, which was undeclared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). CDG
READ: Duterte: I have less than P200M in bank