MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II slammed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday amid clamor for the two to end their public bickering.
Roxas mocked Duterte for apparently backing out from his threat to slap him in the face or settle their quarrel in a fistfight.
He also chided the tough-talking mayor for retreating from his challenge to a debate.
“He talks too much and makes challenges,” Roxas told reporters in Leyte. “On the slapping challenge, he withdrew; on the challenge to a fistfight, he retreated; on my challenge to a debate, he backed out.
“A leader of our country should not back out from challenges, but instead face them,” he said.
He said Filipinos won’t be able to know Duterte’s platform if he does not accept his challenge to a debate.
The word war between the two started when some people identified with Roxas claimed that Duterte has cancer.
This worsened when Roxas claimed that the stable peace and order situation in Davao City was a “myth.”
Duterte responded by saying that he would slap Roxas in the face for the latter’s dismal failure in helping victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Duterte also said if the stable peace and order was a myth, then Roxas’ degree from Wharton School of Economics in the US was also nonexistent.
He also refused to debate with Roxas, whom he said was using him to prop up his ratings.
Various sectors called on the two to end their word war, including Roxas’ running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.
Sources said President Aquino also advised Roxas not to continue with his tirades.
Roxas, meanwhile, introduced the “Walang Iwanan Fund” scheme to 1,000 village officials during Barangay Day in Baybay City in Leyte last Sunday.
Roxas said that the fund amounting to around P100 billion would be given to local government units nationwide on top of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
Baybay City is celebrating its fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Assumption on Dec. 27, and Barangay Day is part of the daily socio-cultural activities held annually.
Roxas said the Walang Iwanan Fund is computed at P1,000 per person per LGU, hence if Baybay City has a population of 120,000, the LGU will get P120 million to fund projects deemed necessary by the community.
He said the need to beg for funds from various government offices is eliminated.
Since the country now has an estimated population of 100 million, P100 billion will be allocated for the fund.
Roxas was also visibly pleased at the warm reception he got from Baybay residents.
In his speech, he joked that when he arrived, he was impeccably dressed and his shirt well ironed and tucked in. After getting hugs from the audience and taking pictures with them, he ended up disheveled but was happy about it.
Former energy secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, a senatorial bet of the administration, accompanied Roxas, who was also welcomed by Leyte Gov. Dominic Loreto Petilla and Vice Gov. Carlo Petilla Loreto.
The officials of Baybay were led by Leyte Rep. Jose Carlos Loreto Cari, his mother Mayor Carmen Loreto Cari and Vice Mayor Michael Loreto Cari.
Mayor Sandy Javier of Javier, Leyte, national president of the League of Mayors in the Philippines (LMP), was also present. – With Lalaine Jimenea