The fisherman who asked President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 presidential debates about his actions to help fishermen in the West Philippine Sea said the President has become a joke too. 

“Masama po’ng loob naming lahat dahil siyempre ‘yun ang sinabi niya. Inasahan namin ‘yun na gagawin niya. Ba’t sinabi niyang joke-joke lang? Joke-joke lang din naging presidente natin,” fisherman Carlo Montehermozo said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Wednesday, May 12.

(We’re resentful because he said that. We expected that he would do it. Then why did he say it’s only a joke? Our President just became a joke too.)

The fisherman was referring to the latest pronouncements of Duterte who said that his campaign promise to ride a jet ski to protect Philippine waters was only a “joke.” While riding a jet ski was known to be hyperbole, the intent to protect Philippine interests wasn’t.

During the 2016 presidential debates, then-Davao mayor Duterte was asked by Montehermozo about his plans to help Filipino fishermen who were being harassed by Chinese ships in Philippine waters. 

Duterte replied: “I will ask the Navy to bring me to the nearest boundary d’yan sa Spratlys, sa Scarborough. Bababa ako, sasakay ako ng jet ski, dala-dala ko ‘yung flag ng Pilipino, at pupunta ako dun sa airport nila, tapos itanim ko. Then I would say this is ours and do what you want with me.”

(I will ask the Navy to bring me to the nearest boundary in the Spratlys, in Scarborough. I will ride a jet ski, I will bring the Philippine flag, and I will plant that in their airport. Then I would say this is ours and do what you want with me.)

The commander-in-chief also derided those who believed in his promise and called them “stupid” for doing so.

‘Unfit’ president

Montehermozo added that aside from their extreme disappointment over Duterte’s failure to fulfill his promise, he also seems to be “unfit” to lead the country. 

“Ay marami dito [mangingisda na masama ang loob], sir. Kahit ‘yung hindi pa nakakapunta ng Scarborough, kahit ‘yung hindi pa nakarating, sinasabi sa akin, ‘Wala na, nag-uulyanin na ‘yung presidente natin’ sabi nila,” Montehermozo said. 

(There are a lot of fishermen here who are resentful. Even those who didn’t go to Scarborough, they would tell me, “It’s over. Our president has become forgetful already.”)

Montehermozo added that he and his fellow fishermen will not vote for another Duterte in office.

“Ay iba na lang siguro. Ibang presidente na lang. Kasi kung ano’ng puno, [siya ring bunga],” the fisherman said. (Probably, a different candidate. A different president. Because a tree will bear only a fruit of its kind.)

In another round of controversial remarks, the President challenged retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio to a debate over the West Philippine Sea issue. 

But when Carpio accepted his challenge, the commander-in-chief retreated and said he would be represented by his spokesperson instead. – Rappler.com