Binay to Duterte: ‘Presidency not for liars, merciless killers’

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay stepped up his attack  against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, April 9, saying his rival is not fit to lead the country as the presidency is not for “liars and merciless killers.”

Binay made the statement a day after Duterte denied his involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City, an alleged anti-crime strategy critics believe he would conduct on a national scale if he is elected president.

“Mayor Duterte, palaging pinagyayabang mo na marami kang pinatay, ngayon ito ay tinatanggi mo (Mayor Duterte, you’re always bragging that you’ve killed a lot of people, but now you’re denying it),” said the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer.

“Make up your mind, berdugong mamamatay-tao (you executioner-killer). The presidency is not for the unprincipled and the inconsistent. It is not for liars, braggarts, and most especially merciless killers,” Binay added.

It was the second time in 3 days that the Vice President personally criticized Duterte, who is currently tied with Senator Grace Poe in first place in surveys on presidential candidates. Binay ranked 4th in the latest The Standard poll. (READ: Binay to Duterte: ‘Why so proud of extra-judicial killings?)

“Sa bibig mo na mismo nanggaling ang mga katagang ito (These words came from your own mouth),” Binay said, before citing  Duterte’s public statements on his alleged role in extrajudicial killings.

He said that on May 24, 2015, Duterte said in Gikan sa Mara Para sa Masa aired over the local ABS-CBN channel in Davao: “Ako, ako raw ang death squad? Tinuod. Tinuod na. (Am I the death squad? True. That’s true)” –

Binay also said that on December 2015, when asked in an interview on dzMM if he had killed people, Duterte replied, “Ay susmaryosep, marami na (Jesus Mary and Joseph, many).”

“Maliban sa pagiging berdugong mamamatay tao, saksakan ka pa ng kayabangan at hari ng kasinungalingan (Aside from being an executioner-killer, you’re a total braggart and the king of lies),” Binay said, addressing his rival.

The Vice President said Duterte’s more appropriate slogan should not be “tapang at malasakit (courage and concern),” as promoted by his campaign team, but “yabang, kasinungalingan at kawalang-puso (bragging, falsehood, and heartlessness).”

When a reporter asked about Duterte’s insistence that he does not condone extrajudicial killings at the sidelines of a campaign sortie in Batangas, Binay quipped, “Uy! Bagong panganak ka ba? (Oh! Were you born yesterday?)”

The recent exchange between Duterte and his rivals on extrajudicial killings was triggered by skepticism over the Davao mayor’s campaign promise to end crime in 3 to 6 months. He maintained that he can do this, and that an effective leader shouldn’t be afraid to “kill” to protect the public.

His critics, however, fear that his strategy would be carried out without due process, and would hurt poor, innocent suspects as well.  (READ: Duterte on how to fight crime: ‘It has to be bloody’) – Rappler.com