Jim Paredes on viral tiff with Duterte Youth: ‘Satisfying to shut them up’

Singer and vocal supporter of the Aquino administration Jim Paredes was trending over the weekend after a video of his confrontation with members of Duterte Youth at the People Power Monument went viral.

Photos of Paredes staring a member down also spread on social media. His behavior was also heavily criticized.

You can be Pro-Duterte or Anti- Duterte. But please, don't be like Jim Paredes.

— Joshua Tan (@juicewhattan) February 25, 2017

In a tweet after the protest on Saturday, the singer said that he found the confrontation "enjoyable."

"I had an immensely enjoyable confrontation with 7 Duterte youth who crashed the EDSA rally. They were told to leave, but insisted on staying," he wrote, adding that that their presence was disrespectful and provocative.

The Duterte Youth stood a few meters away from the People Power Monument, where a protest was being held in commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. Paredes in the video is seen engaging in a one-side heated argument, as the members of Duterte Youth responded curtly, if they responded at all.

In his note, the singer said: "None of them could argue. They tried but were incoherent and repeated troll arguments."

He went on to speculate that these were the people who "probably liked reading troll comments that threatened me and other people, and wanted my family and others raped or killed."

"It is so satisfying to shut them up when it mattered. Face to face. In person," he concluded.

pic.twitter.com/5x1VBfFDej

— Jim (@Jimparedes) February 25, 2017

Paredes on Sunday posted another series of tweets in relation to the confrontation, at one point noting that Jesus "went physical against merchants who disrespected temple" and asked if that was wrong.

Ppl who are silent on troll threats &insults are suddenly screaming & aghast at 'bullying.’
Are we suppose to take disrespect lying down?

— Jim (@Jimparedes) February 26, 2017

Jesus went physical against merchants who disrespected temple. Was he wrong?
‘Bullying’ ba to go verbal on ppl who disrespect EDSA rally?

— Jim (@Jimparedes) February 26, 2017

What’s different aside from me not obviously being Jesus? Explain.

— Jim (@Jimparedes) February 26, 2017

A number of people also found the condemnation of Paredes as a bully ridiculous.

Wait. Paredes garners more vitriol than Cam saying it's good to kill people and Aguirre basically promising to execute a political vendetta?

— Nik (@iwriteasiwrite) February 26, 2017

You are bashing @Jimparedes for what you feel is "bullying" of the Duterte Youth, but you don't mind how Mocha and Sasot do their thing?

— Ken Observer???????????????? (@KenCallawood) February 25, 2017

Paredes was one of the artists who marched at the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, along with fellow APO Hiking Society members Boboy Garovillo and Danny Javier. After the protest successfully overthrew the Marcos regime, Paredes wrote the anthem "Handog ng Pilipino Sa Mundo." Its lyrics are inscribed on a wall at the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News