President Rodrigo Duterte took potshots at his predecessor’s ‘careless’ remarks and branded him as “stupid” for claiming that there has been no progress in the current administration’s war on illegal drugs.
Speaking before the troops in Marawi City, Duterte blamed the spread of illegal drugs, of which former President Benigno Aquino III failed to address in his term, as the reason why the May 23 armed conflict in Marawi City broke out.
“Marawi [crisis] erupted because of the drug operation. Now, when you say, ‘nothing happened,’ that’s an insult. I am very sensitive with this kind of issue because many of my policemen and soldiers already died. So if you are careless to say ‘nothing happened,’ I’d really get foul-mouthed. So do not just make a plain statement because you don’t know the real score,” Duterte said.
“I got insulted because many of my troops died but many of the enemies also died, but at the cost of the lives of my soldiers and police. That’s why my retort was, ‘You [Aquino] are so stupid,’” he added.
Duterte said he could have accepted Aquino’s tirade, but the former President’s remarks were unacceptable.
“He’s an ex-president. He can just say, ‘Well the battle is a continuing one. It would never stop but we have to continue to be vigilant.’ He should have said it that way. That’s it. We’re both president. I am very sensitive with that kind of issue involving my soldiers and policemen,” he said.
Duterte likewise lashed out at Senator Grace Poe, telling his former presidential rival not to meddle in the issue between him and Aquino, saying that the senator did not understand his position.
“Grace (Poe) said, ‘watch your mouth.’ You take care of your mouth, and I will take care of mine because my mouth is not for your mouth. Tahimik ka lang diyan kasi hindi mo naintindihan [Just shut up because you don’t understand] from where of I stand,” Duterte said.
On Thursday, Poe said she understood that cursing was part of the President’s “style,” but this may influence children to do the same after he called Aquino “g*go (a fool).”
Duterte, who visited Marawi City for the second time on Friday, once again asked soldiers to “stay alive and fight cool” as they continue the battle against Islamic State-inspired extremists.
“I have to be here because I want all of you to know that… Mahal ko kayo. I hope you will be able to clean up Marawi City and get rid of the terrorists,” the President said.
The President said he was hopeful that the government will not lose more troops because of the ongoing battle.
“I hope that there would be less heartaches and you’d be able to clean up Marawi. Get rid of the terrorists and I hope no one would be placed in danger. I have to be here because I want you to know that I really love you.”
“Stay alive, fight cool. Do not be in a hurry. Do not go into rage because if you’re infuriate, you’ll just put your life at risk. Take time,” he added.
Duterte likewise reiterated his pledge of putting up a P50-billion trust fund for the children of soldiers and police.
The President was accompanied by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces Chief General Eduardo Año, and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.