Tough-talking Duterte told: Speak like a president should

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Profanities and the word “kill” may be staples in the vocabulary of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, but a senator on Friday said he had advised the tough-talking government official to tone it down a bit especially if he becomes president of the country.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) told Radyo Inquirer 990 AM, that he had asked Duterte to watch his words.

Duterte on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy for president under the PDP-Laban.

READ: Duterte makes presidential bid official, files COC

“Number 1 advice is huwag tayo tumawid sa salita, sa gawa. Huwag gagawin. Rhetoric lang. As a mayor, okay ‘yan; papalakpakan ka ng constituents mo, pero as president, international community ang nakikinig sa iyo kaya dapat grumaduate ka rin sa ganyang pananalita. I am sure, kapag na-elect siyang president, siya po ay gagraduate na du’n,” Pimentel said.

(My number 1 advice to him is to not act on these threats. It should only be part of his rhetoric. As mayor, it is okay for him to do that. His constituents will clap for those antics. But if you are the president and the international community is listening to you, you need to stop using that kind of language. I am sure that if he would be elected president, he will adjust.)

“I am sure when he becomes president, presidential na rin ang lingwahe niya (he will speak like a president too),” the senator added.

Pimentel, however, clarified that he would not put the shackles on Duterte once the campaign season starts.

“Pababayaan ko ‘yung personality niya. (Sabi ko), ‘kung anong personality mo, gusto ko magustuhan ka ng tao para sa totoo mong personality. Kung matalo ka sa eleksyon dahil sa totoo mong pagkatao, so be it. Pero kung mananalo ka naman, then good.’”

(I will let his personality shine through. (I told him), ‘I want the people to like your for your true personality. If you lose the elections because of your personality, so be it. But if you win, then good.”

No reason to be terrified

While Duterte has been accused of extrajudicial means in dealing with accused criminals in his city—he himself has threatened to kill lawless elements if they did not leave Davao—Pimentel said he had told Duterte about his views on enforcing laws.

READ: Duterte on criminals: ‘Kill all of them’ | Duterte to drug pushers: Leave Davao City or be killed

“Agree ako sa tough enforcement of the law against crime. Pero pagdating sa penalties sa criminal, you have to follow the law. At sa batas natin, hanggang kulong lang tayo. Pero gusto ko kung sino talaga ang mga kriminal, ikulong natin,” the senator said.

(I agree with the tough enforcement of the law against crime. But when it comes to penalizing the criminals, you have to follow the law. And in our laws, the gravest penalty is prison. But I want the criminals to be jailed.)

Despite the accusations against Duterte, Pimentel said that none of these has been proven. He also said that only lawless elements should be terrified of Duterte’s presidency.

“Ang sinasabi ng iba, if you are going to be law-abiding no reason for you to be terrified. Ang natetterrify lang ngayon, mga miyembro ng sindikato, lalo na ‘yung matagal na sa buhay ng pagka-kriminal lalo na sa drugs,” he said.

(What the people are saying, if you are going to be a law-abiding, there is no reason for you to be terrified. Only members of syndicates, especially those which have long been involved in criminal activities like drug peddling, should be terrified.)