An unfazed President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday stood by his attacks against one of her staunchest critics, Sen. Leila De Lima, saying he has evidence to back his allegations against her.
In an ambush interview before speaking with troops in Camp Siongco in Cotabato City, Duterte maintained that De Lima was an “immoral person,” adding that reporters themselves can go to the Department of Justice and Commission on Human Rights, which the senator previously headed, to personally validate his claims.
“She’s an immoral person…Yes, I already have (evidence). Gusto niyong malaman kung totoo ‘yan, pumunta kayo sa justice department, sa (Commission on) Human Rights, i-validate n’yo, tapos kung sabihin n’yong nagsisinungaling ako, balikan n’yo ako (If you want to know if it’s true, go to the justice department [and] to the Commission on Human Rights, validate it yourselves and if you accuse me of lying, get back to me),” Duterte told reporters.
“Siya lang ang hindi nakakaalam. Alam ng buong Pilipinas… Bakit ako magsalita kung wala akong ebidensya? Ano ‘ko, parang siya, gaga (She’s the only one who doesn’t know. The entire Philippines knows. Why would I speak without evidence? What am I, a fool like her)?” he added.
Duterte on Wednesday accused De Lima of “political posturing” and called her an “immoral woman” for an alleged affair with her driver, who he said collected drug money to fund her campaign.
READ: Duterte slams De Lima
Asked about De Lima’s response of “abuse of power” and plea to spare her family from attacks, Duterte said it was the lady senator who went overboard by accusing police amid the government’s relentless war against drugs and criminality.
READ: Emotional De Lima calls Duterte tirades ‘character assassination’
“She created this scandal. She knows that she is a public official. Anong (What) spare the family? De Lima, your life is an open book,” Duterte said.
“I did not go overboard but she did… Pinagbibintangan niya yung mga pulis na ganoon, ganoon… P****** namamatay na nga ‘yung pulis oh (She’s accusing the police. S** of a b****, the cops are getting killed),” he added. RAM/rga
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