‘Who… are you to tell me’: Duterte hits IBP over 'onion-skinned' remark

MANILA, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte slammed the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Saturday for telling him not to be onion-skinned as the Office of the Ombudsman probes into his alleged ill-gotten wealth.

“I want a discussion with you tonight, I do not intend to deliver a speech. Let me start with ‘onion-skinned’ and a cliche which says that a thousand lies being run every day becomes the truth,” Duterte said to an audience of IBP members as he spoke during the installation of new officers and induction of new members of the organization’s Davao City chapter.

The IBP made the remark Friday, reminding the president that he made his life open to public scrutiny upon assuming government office. The organization said this after Duterte threatened he would form a commission to look into corruption allegations against the ombudsman.

The ombudsman is currently investigating into accusations that the president acquired ill-gotten wealth.

“The creation of another body either by executive issuance or by an act of Congress that effectively defeats the independence and flexibility needed by the ombudsman in the discharge of her duties is, at best, constitutionally suspect,” IBP President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo said.

Duterte in a curse-laden speech Saturday, however, claimed that evidence against him was fabricated and threatened to snub the investigation of the ombudsman, which he called “lousy.”

READ: Duterte says he will snub ombudsman's graft probe

“And you just say ‘do not be onion-skinned.’ Who the f*** are you to tell me, in face of fabricated evidence. Sinabi ko na sa before the election wala ako niyan, at wala ako ngayon... Ihampas ko sa mukha mo yang p*****i**** papel na yan,” he said.

“Onion-skinned yan. How about my right again to freedom of expression?”

Duterte said that if his critics could prove he has P200 million in the banks, he would resign immediately.

“I do not lose my freedom of expression so there are lies based on baseless hundreds of millions and even if I wanted to steal, saan ko kukunin yang p****i**** amount na yan?”

Duterte had earlier explained he had inherited millions from his father, who served as Davao governor, walking back from previous speeches where he said he was born into a poor family.

Duterte challenges Morales, Sereno to resign

He also challenged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to resign.

Duterte has repeated his allegations of “selective justice” against the ombudsman.

“Nagpapagamit yang dalawa e. Eh di, mag-resign tayo. I challenge the two. We will go to Congress in a simple ceremony. We sign the letter of resignation. Sige nga,” he said.

READ: Duterte threatens to arrest ombudsman officials dodging probe

The ombudsman Friday remained unfazed by Duterte’s tirades, saying the agency would not give in to the president’s attempts to “intimidate” it. — Mikas Matsuzawa