Davao City mayor Sara Duterte on Monday retaliated to earlier remarks made by detained Senator Leila de Lima with a scathing open letter describing the latter as intelligently dumb.
In the Open Letter, released to media on Monday, Mayor Duterte referred to Senator De Lima as the ‘worst’ for being intelligent but dumb for not accurately comprehending her recent statement over ‘honesty’ remark.
“You are the worst because you are intelligent and dumb all in one head. You are the only person from the Black Hole (opposition) who said it right, dapat ang botante ang nagsasabi kung ano ang hinahanap niya sa kandidato. But you are dumb as well, for attacking me without reading the entire transcription of my statement and comprehending what I said,” she said.
The outspoken daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said: “If I am an example of what is wrong and what could be worse for our government, you just described yourself as well.”
On Sunday, March 24 De Lima attacked Sara calling her a representation of what is wrong and how things could be worse for the government.
“Bago pag-usapan kung magaling o edukado ang kandidato, ang unang tanong dapat ng ating botante: Nagsasabi ka ba ng totoo? Naglilingkod ka ba ng tapat?,” De Lima, who addressed her statement to Duterte who is the campaign manager of Hugpong ng Pag-babago (HNP) Senatorial candidates who are running for the 2019 midterm elections.
Duterte, however, answered that the opposition should not determine the quality of a candidate and honesty is not an issue as it is not part of the requirements to become a candidate.
“Therefore, Black Hole candidates, who are themselves liars, should not attack a candidate in that manner. I used the same argument on the issue of a college degree or inclusion in the narco list,” she said.
Mayor Duterte suggested for the Senator to make a law that would underscore honesty as part of a candidate’s requirement.
“You are a senator, honesty about your involvement in the illegal drugs business under scrutiny by the courts, how about you make a law adding honesty as a requirement for all Filipinos before they can run for public office? Maybe then you can save the government from yourself, Inday Sara, Leni, Digong, Panelo, Alejano, Hilbay, and the all the De Limas of the universe,” Duterte said.
