President Duterte blasted detained Senator Leila de Lima anew for criticizing his long-time aide, saying she should endure jail while he and his allies are enjoying the time of their lives.
Duterte made the statement after De Lima told his long-time aide, Senator Bong Go, to stop covering up for the Chief Executive.
"Stop covering up for your boss and misleading us on his true capacity to lead. No one is really in charge," the detained lawmaker said.
"Marami nang namatay. Marami pang nagkakasakit. Tigilan na ang panlilinlang. Halatang-halata na kayo (Many have died and many more are getting sick. Stop misleading the people. Your antics are obvious)," she added.
In response, Duterte took time in his pre-recorded public address to lash out and curse at De Lima and mock her imprisonment.
"Tama ‘yan sa iyo. Magtiis ka. P***** i** mo (You deserve that. You should endure that you son of a b****)," he said Monday evening.
"'Sige lang,' sabi ko tutal nagtitiis ka, eh (I said carry on because she's enduring anyway). Kami dito (While) we are enjoying the times of our lives, you know singing sometimes --- singing, laughing, ikaw, nasa presuhan (while you are behind bars)," he added.
According to the President, Senator De Lima cannot accept the fact that he won in the 2016 elections.
"Galit ka lang kasi naging presidente ako. Galit ka lang kasi ako may ginawa ako sa bayan (You are just mad because I became president. You are just mad because I am doing something for the country)," President Duterte said.
"Galit ka lang kasi ako hindi ako pumayag na itong bayan ko pupunta sa aso (You are just mad because I am not letting this country go to the dogs)," he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte said he could not care less if De Lima would be freed from jail.
"You can be freed for all I care. But people know that you are a b****, that’s what you are," he said.
De Lima, a known critic of the President, has been behind bars for almost four years now over drug charges filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ) before a court in Muntinlupa.
She is facing two cases of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading before Branch 205 of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court. The court dismissed one case.