Duterte wants to be relevant by naming ‘corrupt’ presidential bets — Leody de Guzman
FILE PHOTO: Labor leader Leody de Guzman, chair of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino. (Photo from his Facebook account)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is only trying to make himself relevant by threatening to name allegedly corrupt presidential aspirants in the 2022 national elections, labor leader Leody de Guzman said Tuesday.
De Guzman, who is among the aspirants in the presidential race, said the threat of an expose is Duterte’s way of making noise, as he is already a “lame duck” president.
“May panibagong pasabog diumano si Duterte sa kung sino ang korap sa mga kandidato sa pagkapangulo. Nagtatangkang maging ‘relevant’ ang ‘lame duck’ na pangulo,” he said in a statement.
(President Duterte claims to have an expose about who is corrupt among the presidential aspirants. It is only an attempt for the ‘lame duck’ president to be ‘relevant’.)
“Nag-iingay ang pato para hindi siya katayin pagtapos ng kanyang termino at upang hindi mabawi ang naipon niyang itlog sa anim na taon,” he added.
(The lame duck is only making noise so that it would not be slaughtered after his term ends, and so that the eggs he had gathered over the past six years will not be taken away.)
According to De Guzman, instead of focusing on the 2022 elections, the President should put his attention to solving the myriad of problems in the country — from the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, climate change issues, and human rights concerns.
“Pamumulitika ang inaatupag ng hambog na si Duterte, imbes na konsentrahan ang mga krisis sa kalusugan, kabuhayan, klima, at karapatan,” he claimed.
(This boastful Duterte only thinks of politicking, instead of concentrating on the crisis within the health, livelihood, climate, and rights sectors.)
“Kung talagang pagmamalasakit sa bayan at hindi simpleng pagpwesto para sa negosasyon ang kabanatang ito, hinahamon natin ang pangulo na maglabas ng ebidensya hindi lang puro patutsada,” he stressed.
(If he is really concerned about the country’s welfare and it is not mere posing for negotiations, we are challenging the President to release concrete evidence and refrain from making accusations only.)
De Guzman’s criticism of Duterte came after the Chief Executive, in the second part of his Talk to the People aired on Tuesday morning, said that he would name the ‘most corrupt’ of the presidential bets before the May 9 polls.
Duterte said that this is part of his obligation as head of state. But aside from that, he said that one of the candidates “really cannot be a president” while another candidate can be elected but is “too corrupt.”
READ: Duterte to name ‘most corrupt’ presidential bet before May 9 polls
De Guzman, is running in the 2022 polls with a platform focused on labor.
READ: Ka Leody: Reform political, electoral system to end vote-buying and patronage politics
READ: Ka Leody De Guzman supports call for more tax on wealthy
However, the aspirant has lagged in recent surveys, ranking below former senator Bongbong Marcos, Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Despite this, De Guzman remains optimistic, adding that the true survey will be on election day.
READ: Despite low survey ranking, Ka Leody remains optimistic: True polls are on May 2022
