President Rodrigo Duterte during the Miting De Avance of PDP-Laban on Saturday criticized Senator Leila De Lima for investigating him since he was still the Mayor of Davao City.
Duterte, who’s speaking to the supporters of PDP-Laban in Pasig City narrated how De Lima tried to pin him in human rights violations several times.
According to the President, De Lima started scrutinizing him when she was still the chairperson of the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) during the Arroyo administration, then continued pinning him during her term as the Secretary of Justice during the Aquino administration.
He said that De Lima didn’t stop even they both reached the national government position and pointed out that the lady Senator didn’t prove anything against him.
The President also mentioned Bikoy who’s being accused as being commanded by the opposition to taint the reputation of the chief executive and his family.
“Inimbistagahan niya ako [ng] apat [na beses] walang masabi ngayon doon sa presohan ako ang isinusulat, Duterte, Duterte, Duterte..” the President said.
“Apat na beses mo ko inimbistiga pati yung rapporteur, hanggang ngayon walang tapos sige tapon dito.. tapos niyo diyan yung’Bikoy niyo.. bulate yan sa utak niyo,” Duterte said.
Duterte raised his finger for a moment while he continued discussing his case in the International Criminal Court, and how De Lima kept trying to prosecute him which made the audience laugh, saying that the lady Senator forgot that his trying to pin a prosecutor who’s knowledgable with law.
“Kasi ganito yan, noong may subpoena na so nag aral na ako.. nakalimutan ng gaga na ito na prosecutor ako, I was doing trial work every day for eight years, so what about… I studied my case,” Duterte said.
He narrated that he kept studying the Rome statute where the Philippines was one of its signatories, saying that it was invalid because it didn’t publish in the Official Gazette of the country.
Duterte and De Lima are known for already exchanging criticisms for years.