Palace: Otso Diretso bets should be thankful to Duterte

Malacañang said on Monday senatorial candidates from the Otso Diretso coalition should be grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte who has been mocking them in public speeches while on the campaign trail.

Lagging behind in surveys, the eight opposition candidates led by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV and former Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II have been the subject of Duterte's verbal attacks since March, ranging from their qualifications, background, performance in government to sexuality, as the President heaped praises on his preferred candidates.

Duterte had also said the Otso Diretso bets will head "straight to hell."

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte, whose popularity ratings recently soared back to a personal high, was actually doing the opposition a favor.

"They should be thankful," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. "Siguro tinutulungan niya para umangat ng konti dahil masyadong mababa."

"Di ba sabi nga nila 'Thank you Mr. President for mentioning our names. It's helping us.' Baka naman naawa sa kanila," he added.

Detained Senator Leila de Lima last month took the unrelenting verbal attacks against the opposition senatorial candidates as a "very good sign" that they are gaining ground among the Filipino electorate.

Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, expressed hope that the Otso Diretso senatorial bets will be able to catch up with those leading in surveys.

Administration candidates, who have been dominating the pre-election surveys, are running either under the ruling PDP-Laban party ticket or regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago founded by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. — BAP, GMA News