VP Sara slams Manila Rep. Chua, backs opponent

 

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday officially supported congressional candidate Apple Nieto as she criticized Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua during Isko Moreno’s campaign sortie in Quiapo, which is under Chua’s district.

“Ibibigay ko itong apple na ito kay Apple Nieto. Ma’am, saksak mo ito sa bibig ni Chua hanggang sa kanyang lalamunan hanggang siya ay mamatay,” Duterte said in her speech.

The vice president referenced Chua to the famous fairytale ‘Snow White’ where the princess was sent to a deep, cursed sleep after biting a poisoned apple.

Duterte added that she doesn’t even know Chua but ‘he still keeps tarnishing her reputation.’

“Nagtataka lang ako sa kanya kung bakit niya ako sinisira eh hindi naman ako tumatakbo kandidato,” the vice president said.

She announced that she is ready to ‘fight dirty’ in the canals of Chua’s district because she is used to it in Mindanao.

“Dapat ang sinusunod lang yung legal orders at pag illegal hindi dapat sundin katulad namin kaya alam nyo na na wag nyo ng iboto si Joel Chua kundi si Apple Nieto na lang at buong tiket ni Yorme,” Duterte said in her speech.

The vice president reminded the audience to refrain from voting for candidates coming from big political families and those endorsed by famous people.

“Hindi dahil Duterte ’yan ay automatic ang boto ninyo. Dapat tinitignan din ninyo ano ba ang kapasidad at abilidad ng tao na ito,” she added.

‘Endorsing Isko’

Duterte endorsed former Mayor Isko Moreno’s bid to reclaim the city’s top post on Thursday, calling him “pinakamamahal na Mayor ng siyudad ng Maynila, Isko Moreno, Isko Moreno Domagoso.”

The vice president thanked Moreno for welcoming senatorial candidates from the Duterte slate to his campaign sorties — reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos and Jimmy Bondoc.Moreno will face reelectionist Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Tutok to Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa and eight other candidates.

The former mayor joined the Duterte administration as chairman and chief executive officer of the North Luzon Railways Corp. from July to October 2017 and as undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development from May to October 2018.

‘To focus on campaign’

Chua responded to Duterte’s claim on Saturday, stating that he ‘does not resort to negative campaigning.’

“Nirerespeto po natin ang kanyang pagpili ng kandidato sa aking distrito. Basta focus lang po ako sa kampanya ko dito,” the lawmaker said.The congressional representative pointed out that his programs during his tenure are the only thing that matters.

Chua headed the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which initiated the investigations against the vice president for her use of confidential funds.

The use of confidential funds was among the seven articles of impeachment against Duterte after allegations of misusing P612.5 million during her tenure as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

The Senate has proposed to start the impeachment trials by July 30, once the 20th Congress has been opened.