By Genalyn Kabiling
Not all current senators deserve a seat in the Senate.
According to President Duterte, there were "a lot" of senators who should not be in power for reasons including their lack of intellect and penchant for endless criticisms.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He took a swipe at some senators even as he rallied support for his senatorial candidates during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Marikina City Wednesday night.
"Diyan sa Senado, I could only --- kasi focused tayo sa Senate eh there are a lot of those there who should not be there," Duterte said.
"Ang personality, then he was supported by --- walang ginawa except to criticize para lang masabi nila mas marunong sila at may alam sila ," he added.
Duterte also expressed dismay with a lady senator who was supposedly a dull-witted and noisy critic.
"There is one lady who is eternally sarcastic. Wala namang utak ," he said, without identifying the person.
"Every time she talks, she does not consult a lawyer, she commits blunder all the way. Parang nagmakamarunong na aktibista na wala namang laman at walang ginawa. Iyong mga ganun, maingay ," he added.
Reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV were later identified by the President during his tirade against alleged inept public servants.
"Bam Aquino, except for the namesake sa surname, anong…? Sige lang presscon,” Duterte said.
On Trillanes, he said the former rebel soldier tried to appear "smart aleck" but was supposedly a coward when he surrendered to authorities after launching a mutiny.
"P***** i** mo, Trillanes. Kung talagang matapang ka, nagpakamatay ka doon pasigaw-sigaw. Ay nako. Tapos pumunta ka sa Peninsula, nagkain ka ng steak, nag-surrender ka. Anong klaseng sundalo 'yan? ," he said.
The President also made a pitch for his senatorial candidates with supposed integrity and competence worthy of the people's vote.
Among the candidates present were re-electionist Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, and Aquilino Pimentel III, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan.
Duterte reminded voters that they get the leaders they deserve.
"Kaya pagka nandiyan ka, huwag kang magreklamo na p***** i** p* wala itong ginawa ang… Puro daldal. Eh inilagay ninyo eh. So ang politika mo, your dimension sa pagtingin mo sa bayan pati politics is you are who you elect ," he said.
"That’s the price that you have to pay. Marami naman kasi diyan, eh nagpapadala kayo ," he added.