PDP-Laban asks for ‘understanding’ for Duterte’s use of curse words

On behalf of the PDP-Laban, its president, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, sought for understanding on Tuesday over Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s accidental use of “undesirable curse words” while talking about the Pope.

Pimentel noted that Duterte already explained that his curse was not directed at Pope Francis but at the heavy traffic brought about by his visit in the country last January.

“Kami na lang on behalf of the party, kami po’y humihingi ng understanding na yung kandidato po namin e ganun po talaga ang personality niya,” the senator told reporters in an interview at the Senate.

“And it was so unfortunate nga na naisingit yung undesirable curse words in the same sentence na nabanggit po niya ang pangalan ng Santo Papa so it was an accident; no one intended or anticipated, pero nangyari na po ‘yun, so we hope for your understanding and we’ll learn a lesson from this incident,” he added.

Pimentel said that Duterte was just trying to be himself and that the mayor would not be true to himself if he would talk without cursing.

“Pwede naman siyang magpakatotoo, be yourself. Kung speech na ni isang mura wala dun, hindi na ‘yun Mayor Duterte. Pero huwag naman 100,” he said.

The senator pointed out that the mayor has been in local politics for over 20 years and has been used to “very colorful language” at the local level.

Nevertheless, Pimentel said they already advised the mayor, even before, to reduce his cursing.

“Tandaan mo, Mayor Duterte is 70 years old, hindi na po namin maasahan na bagong ugali so bawas bawasan na lang. Basta sinasabi ko sa inyo, a speech without a curse word will no longer be a speech by Mayor Duterte,” he said.

As to Duterte’s own admission that he had killed a few people, Pimentel said it was just another colorful language to show the criminals that he can match them — muscle for muscle, firearm for firearms or will for will.

But it would be another thing, he said, if there was evidence that he had indeed killed people.

“Iba po ‘yun pag may ebidensya talaga. Pag may ebidensya talaga then of course, rule of law tayo. No one is above the law,” said Pimentel.

“Pero alam niyo, 20 years na po niyang sinasabi yan ha; walang ni isang kaso or evidence ng killing attributable hindi naman po napa-file so sa ngayon, ilalagay po natin yan sa colorful language, colorful illustration of the will, of the political will of the messenger,” he further said.

Now that Duterte had also admitted being a womanizer, Pimentel said there was no need for the mayor to keep talking about it to dispel speculations that he was just bragging about it.

Pimentel stressed that Duterte was just volunteering all these information about him because he was willing to be judged on the basis of his personality.

But after presenting his true self to the people, the senator said their standard-bearer will not undertake an issue-based campaign focused on three main issues— federalism, fight against criminality, and fight against corruption.