By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte castigated human rights lawyer Chel Diokno for criticizing the government's response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and for allegedly encouraging the public to defy the quarantine restrictions.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PCCO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement after Diokno decided to take on the case of a social media user who was summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over their sentiments on the government's response to the pandemic.
Diokno, who ran for the Senate in the last election, also called for mass testing for COVID-19 and cautioned the public on the use of the P275-billion government budget to fight the crisis.
In his public address late Friday (April 3) night, President Duterte said Diokno was launching black propaganda against the government and slammed him for defending a man being investigated for alleged "fake news."
"Leche ka, galit ako sa'yo, ulol ka (I'm mad at you, you fool)," Duterte said, describing Diokno as one of the "lousy lawyers" encouraging the people to violate the lockdown.
"Huwag ka kasi mag-intriga ka sa tao ngayong panahon na ito. Ulol." (Do not sow intrigues among the people at this time. You fool.)
Duterte likewise warned the public about electing anybody from the political opposition in the next election.
"Kayong mga oposisyon, dilaw, huwag ninyong pilitin ang pagkatao ninyo na magsali sa gobyerno. Kayo, nag-sigeng tapon-tapon ng black propaganda kasi malapit na ang eleksyon," he said.
(You in the opposition, you yellows, do not force yourself to join the government. You're slinging black propaganda because the election is near.)
"Kung 'yan ang mga tao na ipalit ninyo sunod na eleksyon, torpe talaga ang Pilipino. Sabihin ko sa inyo. Prangka."
(If those are the people that you will replace us with in the next election, then Filipinos are really dull. I'm telling you. Frankly.)
The President likewise went after Diokno's appearance and mocked his loss in the 2019 senatorial race.
"Pwede kitang biruin? Huwag kang magalit. Alam mo kung bakit hindi ka nanalo? Kasi kalaki ng ngipin mo. Magsalita, kalahati ng panga mo lumalabas," he said.
(Can I mess around with you? Don't get angry. Do you know why you did not win in the elections? Because your teeth are huge. When you speak, half your jaw shows.)
"'Yung ngipin mo ang lalaki, kaya na-discourage ang mga tao."
(Your teeth are huge, that's why people got discouraged.)
READ MORE: Diokno denies urging public to violate quarantine rules