Sara Duterte calls Otso Diretso 'depressing black holes obsessed with debate'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  —  Responding to the Otso Diretso’s challenge to a debate, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday likened the opposition senatorial candidates to “black holes” in space.

Carpio, President Duterte’s daughter who chairs the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), had earlier rejected the debate challenge, which she described as a “fixation,” hurled by Otso Diretso. 

The Commission on Elections said it would study the formal request of Otso Diretso for the poll body to initiate the debate.

“Kung ang mga HNP-supported senators ay ang sun, ang HNP ay ang moon, sila po ay parang black hole. Very depressing, dark and very disorganized,” she said. “Gusto ko silang tulungan pero nag-decide ako na I will not share my light anymore sa kanila. Di ko na alam saan nanggagaling ’yang fixation na ’yan,” the presidential daughter added, citing she was wondering where the obsession with debate was coming from.

Carpio said the opposition candidates should act like professionals.

She said the opposition should not order her around with regard to the possible conduct of a debate with HNP senatorial bets for the May 2019 midterm polls.

“They are the ones asking for debate, then they should not order me around. They should act as senators,” the mayor further said.

The HNP senatorial candidates snubbed the informal invite of Otso Diretso for a debate at Plaza Miranda last Feb. 25.

She said the debates should not be one-sided and that both parties should agree to rules, arrangements as well as venue and other aspects of such an activity.

“Willing naman ang mga candidates makipag debate tapos bara bara, very unprofessional, then ngayon uutusan ako? I am the mayor of Davao city, I am the chairman of HNP tapos gagawin akong secretary? Ng merong obsessive disorder na grupong may fixation sa debate? Bakit nila ako uutusan? Hindi naman kami yung nag challenge, sila naman yung nag challenge, sinabi ko you make it professional o wag nila ako utusan kung pano maging professional,” she added.