President Duterte lectured his favorite punching bag, Senator Richard Gordon, on the subject of delicadeza in the latest episode of "Talk to the People" on late Monday night, Sept. 27.
During the pre-recorded public briefing, Duterte reminded the public of the P140 million that had been declared by the Commission on Audit (COA) as "disallowed" public funds from its audit of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) during Gordon's chairmanship of the body.
Duterte said last week that of the P140 million, P86 million was "personally taken" by Gordon and that the money remains unaccounted for.
"Tapos may mukha ka pa na magsabi sa tao, gusto mong tumakbo ng anong posisyon na naisip mo? (And then you still have the gall to tell the people that you want to run for a position that want?)" he said, as if addressing Gordon to his face.
"Lahat ng ambulansya...ng Red Cross naka-plastada yung mukha mo (All of the Red Cross ambulances have your face plastered on them)," Duterte said, bringing up another one of the senator's supposed questionable acts. Gordon is the longtime chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
"Mr. Gordon, you can ask anybody in Davao. Kung mayroon ako niyan, may tao magsabi ma mayroon ako niyan, mag-resign ako pagka-presidente bukas (If I have something like that, if a person will say I have that, I will resign as president tomorrow)
"Yan ang (That is) delicadeza. Mr. Gordon, yan ang (that is a) classic case ng (of) delicadeza," Duterte underscored.
Delicadeza is a Filipino trait anchored on maintaining the dignity and respect for a person and his or her family based on actions.
Oftentimes, it is achieved by not doing a perceived misdeed even if such act isn't illegal.
Duterte had earlier cited delicadeza in his agreement with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, that only one of them should run for a national post in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Duterte had recently signed his certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) to officially become the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan's (PDP-Laban) vice presidential bet for next year's polls.
The President had earlier accused Gordon of using the PRC as his "milking cow" particularly during election season.