DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio hurled back at Senator Leila de Lima the latter's criticism in an open letter released on Monday, March 25.
“If I am an example of what is wrong and what could be worse for our government, you just described yourself as well,” the mayor addressed De Lima in her letter.
Duterte-Carpio was reacting to a TV5 post, which quoted the senator as saying, “Salvador Panelo and Sara Duterte represent what is wrong and how things could be worse for our government. Bago pag-usapan kung magaling o edukado ang kadidato, and unang tanong dapat ng ating botante: Nagsasabi ka ba ng totoo? Naglilingkod ka ba [nang] tapat?”
The mayor pointed out that the Senator is the “worst” because she is both “intelligent and dumb.”
“You are the only person from the Black Hole who said it right, dapat ang botante ang nagsasabi kung ano ang hinahanap niya sa kandidato,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The mayor called De Lima “dumb” for not reading the entire transcription of her statement and comprehending it.
“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,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“You are a senator — honesty about your involvement in the illegal drugs business under scrutiny by the courts — how about you make a law adding honesty as a requirement for all Filipinos before they can run for public office,” the mayor added.
De Lima was arrested in 2017 for alleged involvement in illegal drug trading.
Earlier this month, the mayor also hit back at Vice President Leni Robredo, following her statement on the importance of honesty and integrity to run for public office.
Duterte-Carpio even called on Robredo to quit seeking the presidency.
“She is not called fake VP for no reason. She has tried to copy her late husband but has failed at every turn. She is facing an electoral protest for massive fraud during the 2016 elections,” she said, adding that Robredo even refused to answer allegations of her relationship with a married man.