Duterte confronts protesting leftists after address

July 24, 2017

After a two-hour State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte did what perhaps no chief executive has done: confront a throng of angry protesters from the left. Amid a drizzle, Duterte, flanked by his security and his close aide Bong Go, went outside the Batasan Pambansa and face the crowd, who were shouting. “Now, let’s respect each other. I’m fine if you shout at me. I don’t mind that. I am a politician,” said Duterte, holding a microphone. As his security stood near him, Duterte said: “You don’t want to be respect and you ambush me. Who has a firearm here? Shoot me. I will catch it and give it back to you.” “How can we have peace talks if I am dead?,” he said. Duterte said the ambush of his convoy in Cotabato where at least five were injured was like an attack on him. “Peace talks? Then (the ambush on) my vehicle. Who will you talk to? My spirit?” Peace talks and back channel negotiations with the National Democratic Front were suspended last week after the attack in Cotabato. His firm tone did not waver as he reminded them how many members of the New People’s Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines he released last year to help as consultants in the peace talks with the National Democratic Front. “Last week, ten ( I freed). You want me to free all? Then wait.It’s not automatic. The military and the courts will not agree just like that. But how many did I release?,’he said. Duterte then fired off: “I am not afraid. I came from your ranks. I am not intimidated by your shouting,” he said. He ended by saying:”You don’t want to respect ( me) then fine shout until you lose your voices.” DMS