By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte has advised politicians, particularly those who are running in the upcoming midterm polls, to not use his speeches in painting their political enemy in a bad light.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella has 'spliced' and 'mixed up' his speeches to make it appear that incumbent city mayor Evelio Leonardia is involved in the illegal drug trade.
In a video uploaded in his official Facebook page Thursday morning, Duterte said it is unfair to play with his speeches so that another person would be painted in a bad light.
"I do not want something that is a fraud... Ayaw ko yung gagamitin yung pangalan ko (I don't want my name to be used) something which is not true," Duterte said.
"I would like to tell the people of Bacolod. Wala akong sinabit na mayor diyan. But kung tanungin ninyo kung sino para sa akin ang... I do not want a guy na sabi ko making a fraud sa lahat ng sinasabi ko (I did not mention any mayor there. But If you will ask me, I do not want a guy who is committing fraud out of something that I said)," he added.
Duterte said that he is supporting the mayoralty bid of Leonardia in Bacolod City for he is the "better" candidate.
"I am supporting Leonardia for the mayorship of Bacolod City. I think the better guy is the more direct and honest. Siya ang gusto kong maging (I want him to become) mayor, I am supporting him," he said.
"Not really in so many words or in so many other things that I would do for him, alam naman natin ang panahon (We know how things go today). Just a statement, a simple statement that I am supporting him. Because to me he is the better candidate for mayorship," he added.
Duterte scored Puentevella for using his speeches to make someone appear bad.
"I was, purposely and intentionally, binaliktad yung salita. Hindi naman ho fair 'yan. Actually, my advice kay Mayor Monico is 'wag ganoon (They purposely and intentionally twisted my words. That is not fair. Actually, my advice to Mayor Monico is do not do that)," he said.
"Gamitin mo pangalan ko, tapos yung mga speeches ko ini-splice ninyo tapos dinagdagan ninyo ng ibang--pinaghahalo-halo ninyo lumalabs na si Leonardia ang nasa droga. Mali po yun (You use my name and then you splice my speeches and mix them up to make it appear that Leonardia is into illegal drugs. That is wrong)," he added.
Duterte then explained that he was referring to his meeting with mayors in Malacañang almost three years ago when he mentioned Leonardia's name in one of his speeches last week.
"When I rattled off the names, I never mentioned the name of Mayor Leonardia. I just mentioned the names and sinabi ko (I said), 'Mayor diba nandoon ka (you were there right)?' I was referring to a previous meeting," he said.
"Pinatawag ko lahat ng city mayor. At nag-warning ako sa lahat, sabi ko: ''Wag kayong pumasok diyan.' Alam ng lahat 'yan na yun ang sinabi ko (I called all mayors and warned them to not get involved in illegal drugs)," he added.
Last week, Duterte read the names of a total of 46 politicians in his narco-list which he said was verified and vetted by different agencies. Administrative charges were also already filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman.