MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday claimed a presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections is doing illegal drugs, particularly cocaine.
While he did not give the person鈥檚 name, Duterte hinted that the aspirant comes from a well-known and rich clan, whose family name means 鈥渟trong鈥� and is known for its patriarch.
鈥淭here鈥檚 even a presidential candidate na nag-cocaine (using cocaine). May kandidato tayo na nagko-cocaine 鈥榶an (A candidate is doing cocaine). 鈥榊ang mga anak ng mayaman (from a rich family),鈥� he said in his speech during the meeting of the national and regional task force to end local communist armed conflict in Mindoro.
He, in turn, blasted the presidential aspirant by questioning the person鈥檚 contributions to the Philippines.
鈥淎nong nagawa ng tao na 鈥榶an (What did that person do)? What contribution has he made para sa (for the) Pilipinas (Philippines)? Bakit ang Pilipino parang lokong loko na supporting (Why are Filipinos so crazy crazy supporting that person)鈥�,鈥� he said.
鈥淢agtanong lang ako sa inyo, ano ang ginawa niyan? Nagdo-droga 鈥榶an ng cocaine (I just want to ask, what did that person do? The person uses cocaine),鈥� he added.
He told the public that they should 鈥渇ind out鈥� who the presidential candidate was.
鈥淗indi ako nang-iintriga. Bahala kayo. Find out kung sino. Magtanong kayo sa Davao kung may kilala kayo. Ang mga taga-Maynila, 鈥榶ung mga mayayaman talaga,鈥� Duterte said.
(I鈥檓 not weaving a tale of intrigue. You decide. Find out who. Find out if you know anyone in Davao. Manila is home to many wealthy people.)
The President also said he is baffled by the fame and the public鈥檚 鈥渇ascination鈥� with the presidential hopeful, reiterating that the candidate does illegal drugs.
Duterte said the presidential aspirant is a 鈥渧ery weak leader, except for the name,鈥� dropping a hint that the family鈥檚 patriarch is known.
鈥淏ahala kayo kung anong gusto ninyo na tao. Inyo yan, ang akin lang, pagdating ng panahon, basta sinabi ko sa inyo, he is a very weak leader, ang character, except for the name鈥� ang tatay鈥� pero siya, anong ginawa niya?鈥� he said.
(It鈥檚 up to you to guess who it might be. Once the time comes, you will know what I have told you. He鈥檚 not a very strong leader, except for his name鈥� the father鈥� but what does he do?)
鈥淗e may win hands down, okay, if that鈥檚 what the Filipino wants, go ahead. Basta alam ninyo (You probably already know),鈥� he added.