Ontiveros criticized Duterte’s profanity during Senate investigation

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte for using profanity during a Senate hearing on the war on drugs on Monday.

Duterte has repeatedly used expletives to explain his iron-fisted stance on illegal drugs, especially when the police get involved.

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“This is my position. If you don’t agree with me, I’m sorry, but I’m dealing with a serious problem in my country. Hindi mo madala sa pakiusap yan (This matter cannot be resolved through a request),” he said at a hearing of the Senate subcommittee on blue ribbon.

“I want it to be a lot of people so they can do it, hindi mo masabi, ‘hey, this is the person who wants,'” he added.

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(Especially when the police are involved in drug trafficking, you can’t tell them to stop)

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Duterte responded to Hontiveros, who called him out for saying during a hearing that drug suspects should be killed. This remark, she said, was unacceptable.

“Sorry to interrupt. Speaking of timing, sorry sir, I can say that the resource person can do it in Senado and,” Hontiveros said.

(Sorry to interrupt. Speaking of language, sorry sir, but maybe the expert could stop swearing because the Senate is our home.)

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Coco” Pimentel III, who chaired the investigation into the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs, then advised Duterte to refrain from using foul language even when he was simply telling a story.

Later in the hearing, Duterte apologized to Hontiveros, whom he described as a sensitive person.

“Yung character ko ho ganun talaga. Maski saan mo ako ilagay, even in front of anyone, ganun talaga ako. Bastos ako, walanghiya ako kasi galing ako sa baba,” he said.

(My character is really like this. Wherever you put me, even in front of anyone, I am like this. I am rude and shameless because I come from a humble background.)

But Ontiveros corrected Duterte’s impression of her.

“In Hindi it is very sensitive,” she said, “Ayaw ko lang talaga ng bastos, ayaw ko ng walanghiya lalo na pag pinag-uuusapan natin seryosong Bagay (na) war on drugs or extrajudicial killings.”

(I’m not sensitive. I just don’t like rude, unscrupulous people, especially when we’re discussing serious topics like the war on drugs and extrajudicial killings.)

“Ako, basta ma’am, walang hiya talaga ako. Yan ang totoo (I’m really not ashamed, ma’am. It’s true),” Duterte insisted.

He also stated that he would not have been elected president if he had not been rude and shameless.