Miriam to voters: Express anger vs Duterte via ballot
Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
BULACAN – The tandem of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday hit Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for his remark on an Australian rape-slay victim which has ignited a firestorm.
Santiago said Duterte's remark ''crossed the line,'' and voters disappointed by the Davao City mayor's behavior should express their anger through the ballot.
"If the people don't like his remarks, they can express it through their ballots," Santiago told reporters during an ambush interview at the Bulacan State University, where she was invited as guest honor and speaker for the commencement exercise.
Marcos, meanwhile, described Duterte's remark as ''inappropriate."
"It is also necessary to be sensitive also to the plight of the victim of such terrible crime," Marcos told reporters.
''I can only describe it as inappropriate, biktima yung tao, kawawa naman dinagdagan pa natin."
Santiago also hit Duterte for making a promise to end crimes in just 3 to 6 months. Santiago said this is not realistic at all.
READ: Duterte's anti-crime vow 'pambobola,' says Roxas
"As immigration commissioner, it took me a year to clean up just one agency, so maybe he'll have more enemies than me," she said.
Santiago added that while her rivals promise to ''prioritize'' various sectors, her style will be different.
"I will not prioritize anything, I will launch separate initiatives at once," she said.