Ex-solon to Duterte: ‘Sa lansangan, ‘pag sinabi mong p__ina mo, may sasagot sa ‘yo ng p__ina mo rin’

A former lawmaker allied with the Left on Tuesday refused to be cowed by President Rodrigo Duterte's curse-laden rhetoric against the National Democratic Front of the Philippines during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño took to social media to express his thoughts after Duterte slammed NDF consultants who went to Norway even after the peace talks got stalled.

Duterte also told protesters outside the Batasang Pambansa, whom he faced after his speech, to go home.

"The parliament of the streets is not like Congress na punung-puno ng kaplastikan. Dito, hindi bayad ng pork barrel ang audience," said Casiño.

"Hindi uubra sa mulat na taumbayan yang pamboboladas at pagmumura at pambu-bully na ginawa ni Duterte sa SONA. Sa lansangan, pag sinabi mong 'putang ina mo,' may sasagot sa iyo [ng] 'putang ina mo rin,'"  he added.

Casiño recalled what happened before and during Duterte's visit to the protesters where the President asked for mutual respect and called on them to be patient as he tries to deliver on his promises. 

"Minutes before he arrived, the rally leaders assembled to welcome him and hopefully give him a last-minute briefing on our issues and concerns. Coming down from his vehicle, Duterte gave us a glance but totally ignored us. We were swept aside by his tide of PSGs [members of Presidential Security Group]," the former lawmaker said.

"Duterte with his posse rushed straight up the stage and delivered his piece. He asked for respect. Wow. This is the guy who, minutes earlier in his speech inside Congress, badmouthed us and told us to go home kasi walang silbi ang aming pagra-rally," he said.

"He then claimed the armed Left tried to ambush him. Wow, fake news. Batuhan na lang daw namin siya ng granada sa stage. Wow, bad joke. Na-praning tuloy ang mga PSG."

Casiño said he was not sure "why Duterte did what he did."

"If he wanted engagement with the crowd, he got it. If he had asked the leaders to be with him on stage and perhaps tell him what the shouting was all about, it might have resulted in something better. But he wanted a solo act," he said.

The militants are calling for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines, as well as the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

The protesters also believe the extension of martial law in Mindanao will not resolve the crisis in the region. Over the weekend, Congress approved Duterte's request to extend the imposition of martial law until year end.

"Maybe he simply wanted to explain why his government has failed so far in delivering the change he promised. He even asked us to be patient and not to rush him," Casiño said.

"But if he really listened, it's not the pace of the change but the direction of his programs and policies that leftists are questioning." — RSJ/KVD, GMA News