Andanar drops slur against EU, weeks ahead of ASEAN meeting

MANLlA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar dropped slur against members of the European Union weeks ahead the world leaders troop to the Philippines for the ASEAN meeting.

Andanar and Presidential Communications Officer Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan met with overseas Filipinos community in London, where the communications secretary allowed a speech to entertain the audience.

Andanar, seemingly adopting his principal's "freestyle" speech, said this to the other officials of the European Union: "Yung maiingay na pala-iyot, ang problema sa kanila hanggang ingay lang. Wala naman silang napatunayan."

(Those who keep yapping are those who have a lot of sex, the problem with them is that they are all talk.)

"Yung Prime Ministers and Presidents of other countries are all supportive of President Duterte. Yung mga nasa baba lang ang maiingay dahil nga kulang sila sa iyot," Andanar added.

"The Prime Ministers and the Presidents of other countries are all supportive of President Duterte. Those who rank below are all talk, maybe because they lack sex.)

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly launched tirades against the EU, even making a wordplay "EU de puta" to pertain the group of world leaders, a play with a Spanish cuss word, "hijo de puta or son of a bitch.

Duterte has also accused the European parliamentary of meddling with the country's politics, and even issuing an order against EU diplomats to leave the country in 24 hours, in an incident the Malacanang later labeled as a "misdirected" tirade. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that Duterte was pertaining to the 7-member group of the Progressive Alliance and Party of European Socialists.

Leaders from the EU are expected to arrive in Manila on November 13 for the 31st ASEAN Summit, hosted by the Philippines.

Trillanes, De Lima jab

Before the London-based Filipino community, Andanar also took jabs at two of the staunchest critics of Duterte, detained Senator Leila De Lima and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

The communications official said that Trillanes is allowed to give his statements and critics because the Philippines is a democratic country.

"Pwede mag-ingay ang kahit sino dahil meron tayong freedom and speech and expression, at nirerespeto ang sinasabi ni Trillanes," Andanar said.

(We can make noise because we have freedom of speech and expression, and we can respect what Trillanes is saying.)

But he warned: "Kung gagaguhin tayo, eh di gagaguhin din natin sya. (If we will be jerked around, we will fight back.)

Videos of the said meeting of Andanar and the Filipino community are posted on the Facebook page of Malcolm Conlan.

Andanar and Ablan were sought for comment, but have not replied as of posting.

READ: Philippines ends P13.8-B funding from European Union | Duterte may reverse decision to reject EU aid, Pernia says