Duterte jokes about showing De Lima's alleged sex video to Pope
President Duterte on Tuesday joked about showing detained Sen. Leila De Lima's alleged sex video to Pope Francis after the Pontiff gave the jailed lawmaker a rosary. Philstar.com/Combination Photo, File
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday poked fun at Pope Francis’ giving of a rosary to his jailed critic Sen. Leila de Lima and joked about showing the pontiff her alleged sex video.
De Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center for drug-related charges, has thanked Pope Francis for giving her a “beautiful rosary.”
In a statement, De Lima said the rosary, which was sent to her via the Papal Nuncio, would remind her to keep her faith and to “fight tirelessly” for the Filipinos’ welfare despite the “political persecution” she was experiencing.
READ: Aguirre to De Lima: What about your 3 sex videos?
Without mentioning De Lima, Duterte said in jest that he would show Pope Francis a “video” that may prod him to step down as the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.
“Yung isa, yung hambog bigyan pa ng rosary ni Pope (That braggart was given a rosary by the Pope),” the President said during an anti-corruption summit in Pasay City.
“Si Pope naman o… Hanapan mo nga ako ng video ng ano, pakita ko kay Pope. Baka magtingin pa si Pope, baka umalis pa sa pagka-Pope yan (Find me that video. Once the Pope sees it, he may leave the papacy,” he added.
“P**** i** sobra na ‘to (son of a b***h). I am just human.”
Duterte was alluding to rumors that De Lima had a sex video, something that was denied by the neophyte senator.
Duterte, who was raised a Catholic, clarified that he was just joking.
“That’s a joke. Aabot ng ano ‘yan (It might reach them). I am joking, Pope. If you criticize me, I can criticize you ten times over,” he added.
READ: Female solons: Showing alleged De Lima video demeans women
Duterte however was serious when he assailed De Lima for portraying herself to be a “prisoner of conscience.”
“L***g yan (That’s sexual desire),” he said.
Duterte accused de Lima of having an illicit affair with her married driver, accepting bribes from convicted drug lords and allowing the proliferation of narcotics at the Bureau of Corrections when she was justice secretary.
De Lima, who has been critical of Duterte’s war on drugs, has denied the accusations and has claimed to be a victim of “political persecution.”
READ: De Lima: I'm Duterte's 'punching bag' used as a diversion
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