President Rodrigo Duterte delivered an expletive-laden address to the nation late Friday evening that centered, mostly, on human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.
"I am angry at you (Diokno)," Duterte said at least thrice in his address.
Ths President took offense at Diokno's comments on his "shoot them dead" order against rallyists who would endanger the lives of policemen or the military.
"This Chel Diokno will defend black propaganda because the next election is near. I respect your father, but you are nowhere near his caliber. When you speak, and I mean no slight to janitors—work is work—this Chel speaks like a janitor," the President said.
Duterte also took a swipe at Diokno's physical appearance, saying the reason he lost in the 2019 senatorial race was because his teeth were too big.
"Just try and converge since you say it is your Constitutional right to do so. You say you are right. I say you are wrong. So try to invite 10 people to converge and see if I don't haul you first to prison," he said.
"There is a time for politicking, but we are in a crisis now. Do not add to our problems," the President added.
Duterte said if the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and he is left without any means to address it, he will just hang himself at Luneta, but will take Diokno with him.
"If I become useless, I will hang myself. But I will also hang Diokno. We can die together, you fool," he said.
Diokno earlier disclosed that the National Bureau of Investigation is going after ordinary citizens who criticize government response to the pandemic.
Diokno said he took on a case of a social media user who was summoned by the NBI for alleged violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, or the “unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.”
