Duterte to De Lima: Stop talking, start working

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte blasted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for failing to establish businessman Davidson Bangayan's link with alleged smuggling king David Tan.

"You failed to build a case because all you wanted was publicity ... Ganun kayo kahina," Duterte said Sunday in local state-run television show Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa.

"Why, you just opened your mouth for publicity, I’m telling you to stop talking and start working, you walk your talk and talk your walk," the local official said.

Update: De Lima: Duterte has a lousy mouth

Last week, Bangayan met with De Lima to deny that he is Tan, who is believed to be behind big-time smuggling activities in the country that threaten the local farmers' livelihood.

After the meeting, Bangayan went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) main office in Manila to clear his name but he was subsequently arrested based on an arrest warrant for electricity pilferage.

The businessman, however, was eventually released as authorities fail to find evidence that would prove Bangayan and Tan are the same person.

Read: NBI nabs 'David Tan'

For Duterte, however, the so-called facts linking the two which De Lima stated before the arrest were pronounced prematurely.

“It doesn’t matter what or how many names he is using. What is important is you establish the person's identity, his persona, and build a case around him. They have the same address, the same company names, they even have the same lawyers and yet, they’re not the same?," he said.

The city mayor also resented De Lima's claim that Tan hails from Davao City, saying that he has confirmed the suspect to be from Tuguegarao City.

"Even the petitioner Joseph Ngo could be made to appear in court to confirm his (David Tan) existence. I’ve already told [De Lima] about this but you still insist. Now, I see malice on De Lima’s statement," Duterte said.

Duterte advised the cabinet official to also seek testimonies from business groups from whom some potential witnesses have surfaced to identify Bangayan as the same person as Tan.

"What has the DOJ (Department of Justice) done so far to protect the interest of the national government? The government is losing 1.3 trillion pesos in three years because of smuggling at wala kayong ginawa, mahiya naman kayo," he said.

Related: Duterte stands by 'kill' statement vs smugglers, tells CHR to 'shut up'