Duterte calls investigative journalists ‘paid hacks’ after wealth expose
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2019 06:50:51 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called investigative journalists “paid hacks” days after a news site reported on “spikes” in the wealth of members of his family during their terms in office.
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) last week reported that aside from the Chief Executive, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte all became “mysteriously” richer.
The report also said that there were several businesses that were not disclosed to the government.
In a speech during the 25th National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines Annual National Convention in Iloilo City, Duterte said that people did not care about what happened to his law office.
“[Investigative journalists] are attacking me and my children, all about lawyering. What do they care about what happened to my law office? My law office, it was formed with Atty. Fabiosa, the sibling of the basketball player. We formed it in about a month after he died,” Duterte said.
“So, you can see the minds of investigative [journalists] so… Money talks. They are being paid big. Even my lawyering, even my… motorcycle shop,” he added.
He said that the motorcycle shop closed because of “the law and order” and after the manager was held up.
He also cursed the investigative reporters, saying they may be thinking that as long as a person is in government, they will be richer.
“That was closed many, many years ago. We just do not know… but you know these sons of b—es, they may be thinking that you are in government, you have nothing [to do but] to steal,” he said.
“Well, I will tell you, maybe it’s you, your father. I do not,” he said.
Duterte also defended himself and his family from the “black popaganda.”
Duterte said that there were claims that he had billions of money in his bank, but disclosed that he had “not more than P30 million.”
“They have no… They are saying that… the discrepancy that I did not use any money. I was living with my mother. And you are saying why I only had P1 million,” he said.
He added that most of his properties were inherited.
“You sons of b—es, you yellows. All the time, I was with my mother. Even when I was a mayor, I was being fed by my mother. My mother is the one who has money. As to how much, why will I tell you?” he said.
In a tweet on Sunday, PCIJ said that on the contrary, its report was everyone’s business.
“Public office is a public trust. How officials comply fully with the laws or don’t, whether they file “truthful and complete” SALNs — every citizen’s business,” the tweet read.
SALNs are the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worths, which was the basis of the PCIJ report.
PCIJ also said that it had sought a reaction from all those involved in two letters it had sent to all those involved but there was no response.
The PCIJ gave the same response to Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo who previously questioned the timing of the report’s release. RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA
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