Palace reacts to Agot Isidro’s anti-Duterte post

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Sunday, October 9, responded to actress Agot Isidro’s criticism against President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement, Abella said: “While she (Isidro) is entitled to her own opinion, it also reveals the kind of attitude that the President is addressing – dependency on foreign aid. He wants the Filipino people to gain true independence, economically, mentally and socially.” 

In a Facebook post last Friday, October 7, Isidro said: “Unang-una, walang umaaway sa iyo. As a matter of fact, ikaw ang nang-aaway.

(First of all, no one’s fighting with you. As a matter of fact, you’re the one picking fights with others.)

“Pangalawa, yung bansa kung saan ka inuluklok ng 16 million out of 100+million people ay Third World. Kung makapagsalita ka parang superpower [ang] Pilipinas eh. At excuse me, ayaw namin magutom. Mag-isa ka na lang. Wag ka mangdamay. Hindi na nga nakakain ang nakakarami, gugutumin mo pa lalo.

(Second, this country, where 16 million out of 100+ million voted for you, is a Third World [country]. The way you talk, it’s as if the Philippines were a superpower. And excuse me, none of us want to go hungry. Just be by yourself. Don’t drag other people into it. A lot of people are already starving, you’ll make them starve more.)

“Pangatlo, may kilala ako psychiatrist. Patingin ka, hindi ka bipolar. You are a psychopath.”

(Third, I know a psychiatrist. Why don’t you have a check-up? You’re not bipolar. You are a psychopath.)

Isidro, who is part of the show Ang Probinsyano, seemed to be reacting to Duterte’s remarks that he would not beg for assistance from the United States and the European Union – as her Facebook post included a link to the story on that topic. (READ: Duterte to EU, US: Withdraw aid, we will survive)

“Maski magkahirap dito (Even if we face hardships), we will survive. I’ll be the first one to go hungry, I’ll be the first one to die of hunger, huwag kayo mag-alala (don’t worry). But we will never, never compromise our dignity as Filipinos,” said Duterte at a police camp in Butuan City last Thursday, October 6.

Duterte has been criticizing the US, EU, and the United Nations, after they expressed alarm over his war on drugs which has left more than 3,600 people dead. – Rappler.com