MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte is not a bully, only his critics and detractors classify him as one, Malacañang said Monday, following some netizens’ claims that the Chief Executive is a bully.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President cannot be classified as a bully because bullies inflict injury, pain, and fear against those incapable of fighting back or defenseless, which Duterte does not do.
“Only the critics and detractors classify him as a bully because either they cannot swallow the reality of what he says or they feel alluded to,” Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said Duterte merely threatened criminals and the corrupt with punishment “as a retribution for their wrongs.”
“The criminals and the corrupt violate the law with impunity, they feel no fear in their hearts to account for their crimes. They kill, they rob, they plunder the people's money, they couldn't care less if as a consequence of their crimes people suffer or die,” Panelo said.
“He curses the hypocrites to let them know that they cannot deceive the people with their hypocrisy,” he added.
Panelo, meanwhile, emphasized that the President was merely angered by crimes and other violations in the Constitution and had a tendency to curse because of it.
However, Panelo said over 16 million Filipinos who voted for him accept the President for his manner of speaking.
“PRRD's outrage on any unlawful activity is expressed in strong and hyperbolic language for emphasis and effect. His manner of speaking has been factored in - and accepted by the electorate when they overwhelming voted him into presidency,” Panelo said.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also defended Duterte from critics who called him a bully, saying the President is “a man of strong feelings."
"President is a bully? My a_ _. He speaks strongly at you; then speak strongly at him. Don't whine,” Locsin said.
Talks about bullying were brought to the limelight after viral videos involving students in Ateneo High School made the news. (PNA)
