Rody slams ‘Gabby Concepcion’
He shuns prepared speeches and tends to ramble during his speaking engagements, preferring extemporaneous remarks peppered with anecdotes and jokes – some true, some partly true, others made up – and even bloopers.
On Tuesday, one such mistake left people laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief.
President Duterte accused “Gabby Concepcion” of being greedy when he was apparently referring to Gabby Lopez, chairman of ABS-CBN, the television network he accused of biased reporting. Concepcion is an actor.
In other speeches, Duterte warned against the threat posed by terrorist leader “Hapsilon” and decried the excessive emphasis on “EKJs” that should be “EJKs” – short for extrajudicial killings.
His tendency to mix up information, relay conflicting details and repeat erroneous claims is more pronounced as he commands attention when delivering his frank, freewheeling and lengthy speeches.
Some of his confusing remarks made headlines, prompting his officials to clarify his statements and his intention for issuing them.
During the 120th anniversary of the Department of Justice in Pasay City last Tuesday, Duterte lambasted Gabby Concepcion for his supposed greed. “Sino naka-p ****** i** ninyong lahat. Ikaw? (Who cursed at you? You?) Gabby Concepcion, mukha kang pera, p ******
i** ka. Eh totoo man (You are greedy. Son of a b **** . That’s true),” Duterte said.
In the same event, Duterte lambasted his critics for using the issue of “EKJ” against him vis-à-vis his administration’s war on drugs.
“Ito kasi ‘yung EKJ, EKJ, sinakyan talaga nang husto eh (The EKJ, EKJ, it was really exploited),” Duterte said.
“God d*** i*…So araw-araw ito, hindi ito mahinto, nakikita ko kasi, sinasakyan talaga (It won’t stop. I can see it is being exploited), EKJ, EKJ, EKJ. So be it. So be it. Make it the issue all throughout my term,” he added.
The STAR asked presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella to comment on the President’s statements but did not get a response. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he would defer to Abella on the matter.
Mangled names
Duterte had also mangled names in his previous speeches. Months before the Marawi City crisis, Duterte warned of the threat posed by “Hapsilon,” allegedly the leader of the extremist group Islamic State in the Philippines. He was referring to Abu Sayyaf leader and wanted terrorist Isnilon Hapilon.
The President had also referred to Mighty, the cigarette manufacturer that offered to settle its tax liabilities, as “Mighty King.” The President apparently combined the names of the company and its owner Alexander Wong Chu King.
Sometimes, Duterte makes up information to tease his officials. On Tuesday, Duterte claimed that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is an agent of the United States.