Duterte lashes out at Diokno for alleged ‘black propaganda;’ Diokno tells Duterte to ‘focus on people’s needs’

The lawyer said he was just helping his clients who are ‘enduring pain and hunger,’ and that he never instructed anyone to cause trouble or violate the law. (File photo: @ChelDiokno/Twitter)

President Rodrigo Duterte allotted a portion of his late-night address on Friday, April 3, to hit human rights lawyer Chel Diokno whom he accused of launching “black propaganda” against the government, amid the country’s battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Alam mo, Chel Diokno, kayong mga oposisyon, dilaw, huwag ninyong pilitin ang pagkatao ninyo na magsali sa gobyerno. Kayo, nag-sigeng taga-takbo ng black propaganda kasi malapit na ang eleksyon (You know Chel Diokno, all of you in the opposition, do not force yourselves to join in the government. You ran a black propaganda because the election is coming),” Duterte said.

“Sabihin ko sa iyo ngayon, sa taong Pilipino, kung ‘yan ang mga tao na ipalit ninyo sunod na eleksyon, torpe talaga ang Pilipino (I will tell you now, to you Filipino people, if you will choose those people in the next election, then you are really silly),” he added.

The President threw a series of insults to Diokno after the latter made a decision to take on a case of a citizen who received a subpoena from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Diokno, in his tweet, said the NBI was also running after ‘ordinary citizens’ who are simply being vocal online against the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Duterte said Diokno was among “lousy lawyers” who are “giving encouragement for people to violate the law.”

“Ito si [Chel] Diokno, siya pa daw mag-abogado. Alam mo, Diokno, sa totoo lang, ako bilib ako sa tatay mo. ‘Pag nasa korte ‘yon noon, estudyante pa kami, talagang nanunuod ako (Diokno [even said] he will be the lawyer. You know Diokno, truth be told, I admire your father. When he was in the court before, we were still students back then, I would really watch him),” he said, referring to late senator Jose “Pepe” Diokno.

“Pero ikaw, nung nakita kita, wala ka talagang sinabi (But you, when I saw you, you are really nowhere near [to your father]),” he added.

The Chief Executive even commented on the lawyer’s appearance, specifically his teeth, saying it was the reason why he was defeated in the senatorial race in 2019.

“Alam mo kung bakit hindi ka nanalo?

Kasi kalaki ng ngipin mo. Magsalita kalahati ng panga mo lumalabas. Totoo. Tanungin mo ang Pilipino nakikinig ngayon (You, do you know why you did not win? Because your teeth are big. When you speak, half of your jaw is showing. It is true. You can ask Filipinos who are listening right now),” he said.

“Bakit ganon, binabastos kita? Eh p*tang*na, galit ako sa iyo (Why am I being rude to you? Because, you motherf*cker, I’m mad at you),” he continued.

‘Focus on people’s needs’

Diokno, on Saturday, responded to Duterte’s insults, saying, “Balita ko pinatawag ako sa principal’s office kagabi. Tungkol daw sa ngipin ko (I heard I was called at the principal’s office last night. [They said it was] about my teeth)?”

The lawyer stressed that he was just helping his clients who are ‘enduring pain and hunger,’ and that he never instructed anyone to cause trouble or violate the law.

“Okay lang na pag-initan n’yo ako, pero tutukan n’yo rin ang pangangailangan ng mga tao (It is okay to criticize me, but you should also focus on the needs of the people),” he added.

The NBI earlier said it summoned “more than a dozen” people over their COVID-19-related posts in social media.

Diokno has offered tips to the public on what they should do when they receive a subpoena from the NBI.  He told the citizens to  ‘immediately call a lawyer’ first. It would be better if they get the ones whom they are familiar with and are trustworthy.

The lawyer said ‘they should not go to the NBI’s office alone,’ and instead, send their lawyer to talk to authorities. If an NBI agent contacts or visits them, they should ‘get their name or ID,’ and it is permitted, ‘take a photo of the agent’s ID.’

He added that the public should tell the authorities that ‘they cannot answer their questions without the presence of their legal defense.’

Lastly, Diokno said their lawyers should ‘immediately get a copy of the complaint and supporting documents from the NBI.’

Maraming nagtatanong, ano daw ang gagawin pag pinatawag din sila ng NBI. Heto ang payo ko. #AngTanongKoNgayon #ProtectThePeople pic.twitter.com/bwOu68HS4L

— Chel Diokno (@ChelDiokno) April 3, 2020