Duterte’s ‘prostitute’ remark on Tordesillas tells more about his character than his opponents’ —NUJP

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte's tirade against veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas speaks more about his character than his opponents'. 

In a statement, NUJP chair Nonoy Espina criticized the President for failing to come up with a "credible explanation" when asked to substantiate his allegations against his critics.

"Once again, the foul-mouthed misogynist who is the leader of our nation turns to personal insults when he will not or, most likely, cannot offer a credible explanation to his badly concocted and fictitious accusations against critics," Espina said.

After he cast his vote in Davao City on Monday, Duterte called Tordesillas "every inch a prostitute" when asked about the matrix that linked her, other media outfits, the Liberal Party and Magdalo party-list to a plot to discredit his administration and boost the candidacies of opposition senatorial bets.

Duterte defended the matrix, saying that a lot of communication between the people who were involved in the list have been recorded.

"There is no question Duterte’s tiresome habit of spewing personal insults is intended to intimidate his targets into silence or submission," Espina stated.

"Alas for him, his fits and tantrums speak more about his character than those he would smear," Espina added.

Espina compared Duterte to a thug who uses a bludgeon when he can no longer reason, yet still "fails miserably," adding that Tordesillas and other journalists have more courage than the President, who the NUJP head said only knows "macho posturing."

"But of one thing we are sure, as history has amply proven. Despots come and eventually go. The truth and freedom will always outlast them," the NUJP chair said. — Jami Santos/MDM, GMA News