Duterte on Tañada: He did nothing but defend communists

President Rodrigo Duterte and former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada (INQUIRER.net file photos)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte singled out former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada in his latest tirade against Otso Diretso bets during a PDP-Laban campaign sortie in Marikina on Wednesday.

According to Duterte, Tañada and his father, former Sen. Wigberto Tañada, had done nothing but to defend communists.

“Si Erin Tañada, tatay niya rin nandoon. Anong ginawa? Magdepensa ng komunista, then go to the plenary […] Gusto nga nilang tumbahin ang gobyerno,” the President told the crowd at the Marikina Hotel and Convention Center.

[Erin Tañada and his father, what did they do? They defended the communists and the go to the plenary… They actually wanted to topple the government.]

He also stressed that the Tañada’s achievements would pale in comparison to that of Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, whom he said saved a lot of lives in Mindanao.

“You compare him with Mangudadatu, these guys helped bring about peace in Mindanao,” the President said.

Mangudadatu, he said, was able to calm down people in Mindanao.

In contract, he said: “Itong Tañada na ito, wala. Sige lang, laban sa korte depensa sa left. Anong nagawa ng left sa ating buhay?”

[This Tañada did nothing. He just went to court to defend the left. What has he done with our lives?]

This is not the first time that the President has tried to sway people from voting for Otso Diretso bets, save for Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, on the basis of her being a woman.

In a previous speech, the President slammed the opposition bets for having done nothing, saying that they would go to hell for constantly complaining and criticizing his administration.

READ: Duterte mocks opposition: ‘Otso Diretso’ will go to hell’

Vice President Leni Robredo, who chairs the Liberal Party (LP) which is fielded candidates to the Otso Diretso slate, said opposition candidates drawing the President’s attention was a good sign.

READ: Robredo: Duterte’s remarks on Otso Diretso bets a ‘good sign’

Otso Diretso is the opposition slate, composed of candidates from the LP, Aksyon Demokratiko, Magdalo party-list, and Akbayan party-list.

Aside from Tañada and Gutoc, the other candidates are Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, reelectionist Sen. Bam Aquino, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. /atm