Sara Duterte says De Lima 'intelligent and dumb all in one head'

ISABELA, Negros Occidental — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday lashed back at detained Senator Leila de Lima for criticizing her over her statement that honesty should not be an election issue.

In a statement, Mayor Duterte challenged De Lima, detained over drug-related charges, to come up with a law requiring honesty for Filipinos who want to run for public office.

"You are a senator, and honesty about your involvement in the illegal drugs business is under scrutiny by the courts," the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte said. "How about you make a law adding honesty as a requirement for all Filipinos before they can run for public office."

Under the present law, senators are only required to be natural-born citizens of the country, at least 35 years old on election day, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for at least two years.

Mayor Duterte then called De Lima "the worst" because she is "intelligent and dumb all in one head" and blasted her for "attacking me without reading the entire transcription of my statement and comprehending what I said."

"If I am an example of what is wrong and what could be worse for our government, you just described yourself as well," she said.

"You are the worst because you are intelligent and dumb all in one head. You are the only person from the Black Hole (opposition) who said it right, dapat ang botante ang nagsasabi kung ano ang hinahanap niya sa kandidato," Mayor Duterte added.

She then clarified her statement about honesty: "Ang sabi ko, hindi ang opposition ang magsasabi kung ano dapat ang isang kandidato at hindi issue ang honesty dahil hindi yan requirement para ka maging kandidato. Therefore, Black Hole candidates, who are themselves liars, should not attack a candidate in that manner."

"I used the same argument on the issue of a college degree or inclusion in the narco list," Mayor Duterte added.

In a subsequent interview, the feisty mayor said De Lima should better shut up. "Inaatake rin niya ang sarili niya. She is even in a worst position kasi nakakulong siya," she said.

"Huwag na lang siya magsalita kung iyon lang ang sasabihin niya." —KBK, GMA News