Duterte hits Australian, American ambassadors

CEBU, Philippines - Presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte continued his tirade against the Australian and United States ambassadors for criticizing him for his rape joke.

After a sortie in Aklan, Duterte spoke before his new allies in One Cebu and criticized Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely as well as United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

Duterte narrated the hostage taking incident at the Davao Penal Colony in 1989 that killed several people, including an Australian national.

The mayor said the two ambassadors should “back off” and not interfere in the election process since the issues hurled against him are politically motivated.

He said if both envoys continue to believe in what they see or hear on the social media “they do not deserve their diplomatic posts.”

“You (Gorely) did not even thank me for exposing my life in getting the idiots that rape your national,” Duterte said.

“You know it’s election time. Ambassadors diplomatic kayo. You should refrain. Huwag kayong sumakay,” he said

Duterte also criticized the case that the women’s groups filed against him before the Commission on Human Rights.

“Ang CHR nagdemanda sa akin, isa pang gago ang opisinang yan, ibabasura ko yan.  I will not answer your summons. This is election time, you must have delicadeza. You are not supposed to play politics,” Duterte said.

Duterte was applauded by his Cebuano allies, including the influential Garcia family which leads the local opposition against the Liberal Party-backed administration of Gov. Hilario Davide.

Duterte was joined by his runningmate, Sen. Alan Cayetano, when they formally signed the alliance between the PDP-Laban and the One Cebu Party.

For the part of One Cebu, former GSIS manager Winston Garcia who is running for governor also signed the alliance with his sister, former governor and now Cebu Third District Representative Gwen Garcia, the party founder.

Family patriarch Pablo Garcia also witnessed the signing along with allied local candidates from Cebu’s 49 towns and cities.

The program started past 6 p.m. but Cayetano arrived at 11 p.m. while Duterte came later past 1 a.m.

Cayetano also delivered a speech during the program defending Duterte for the criticisms he received over the hostage taking incident.

Not withdrawing

Cayetano also said there is no truth to the report now circulating on social media that Duterte is withdrawing from the presidential race.

Cayetano, who was in Cebu for his “Rondaserye” Listening Tour at Maribago public beach in Lapu-Lapu City, said he should be the first to know if Duterte is withdrawing.

“Siguro naman kung nag withdraw siya ako ang mauunang makaalam niyan. Meron din lumabas na balita na nag-withdraw din ako at may sinusuportahan na ibang vice presidential candidate,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano met with the Mactan Shrine traders and vendors as well as Cebu tour guides and boat operators.

During the gathering, he presented solutions to problems they are facing. — (FREEMAN)