#NasiraanAngPangulo and #DuterteMeltdown trended on Twitter when President Rodrigo Duterte subjected the country to a long angry rant—specifically against Vice President Leni Robredo—rather than an update on typhoon relief efforts.
These hashtags were meant to support the valiant efforts of the Vice President to give relief to those in Cagayan Valley who were affected by Typhoon Ulysses while criticizing the President’s inappropriate behavior at a time like this.
With regards to the actions of the president and how he spoke to Robredo, some celebrities, politicians, and netizens gave their two cents on Twitter.
Artist Gabe Mercado criticized the president who was swallowed by his own anger for getting outshined by the second-in-command.
In his tweet, he said, “How hollow is the soul of a man who sees others helping in a humanitarian crisis and is angered by how it makes him look bad.”
How hollow is the soul of a man who sees others helping in a humanitarian crisis and is angered by how it makes him look bad
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) November 17, 2020
Journalist Mara Cepeda criticized the meltdown of Duterte as he embarrassed the Vice President for doing more than what she’s supposed to do. She even emphasized that the true leader in the government appears to be Leni.
“A man child just had a meltdown because a woman did her job – and did that excellently. Know who a true leader is when you see one, folks,” Mara said.
A man child just had a meltdown because a woman did her job – and did that excellently. Know who a true leader is when you see one, folks.
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) November 17, 2020
Advocate Kerwin King felt that Duterte is threatened by how capable Leni Robredo is. That is why he had a fit while addressing the nation. And like him, most of the Filipinos think that Robredo is competent in leading the nation.
King said, “Duterte is obviously incapacitated and threatened. Resign and LET LENI LEAD.”
Duterte is obviously incapacitated and threatened. Resign and LET LENI LEAD.
— Kerwin King (@imkerwinking) November 17, 2020
Historical researcher Kristoffer Passion pointed out the last resort of an incompetent leader—to mock the competent.
“The last refuge of the incompetent is to insult and malign the competent. President < Vice President,” he tweeted.
The last refuge of the incompetent is to insult and malign the competent.
President < Vice President.#DuterteMeltdown
— Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) November 17, 2020
Journalist Chay Hofileña was disgusted by how Duterte attacked Robredo. She even questioned whether the President is indeed afraid of the Vice President.
Chay said, “When you attack this way, what kind of a person are you? What are you afraid of?”
When you attack this way, what kind of a person are you? What are you afraid of? https://t.co/xxoMXIgwbN
— Chay Hofileña (@chayhofilena) November 17, 2020
Journalist Inday Espina Varona expressed her opinion regarding how the appointees of President Duterte created lies after lies just to discredit Robredo. Now that many people have been enlightened, they can only create inaccurate information without damaging their target.
She said, “The President’s men — including those generals — now admit they passed on false information about VP Leni Robredo without verifying. That’s not new either. All the attacks over the last four years and a half have never relied on facts, only on self-serving lies. #DuterteMeltdown.”
The President’s men — including those generals — now admit they passed on false information about VP Leni Robredo without verifying. That’s not new either. All the attacks over the last four years and a half have never relied on facts, only on self-serving lies. #DuterteMeltdown
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) November 18, 2020
The effort of the Vice President really did not go unnoticed. Even those in Malacañang were pissed because of her feat. With #NasiraanAngPangulo netizens, celebrities, and even politicians couldn’t get their minds off on how unprofessional and unbecoming the president is.
Singer Leah Navarro tweeted that Leni’s relief efforts surely made the President mad. She tweeted, “Gosh. VP Leni’s dedication to relief efforts has really piqued the Palace. She’s really pissed off Duterte with her good deeds. How strange! #NasiraanAngPangulo.”
Gosh. VP Leni’s dedication to relief efforts has really piqued the Palace. She’s really pissed off Duterte with her good deeds. How strange! #NasiraanAngPangulo https://t.co/RjgryGe9n2
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) November 18, 2020
Fellow singer Bituin Escalante even criticized the time Duterte spent lambasting his Vice President. For the singer, the president is not doing his job and his remarks towards his VP are very “unpresidentiable.”
She said in her tweet, “Puro ka reklamo, tsismis at kabastusan. President ka ba o tambay sa kanto? Magtrabaho ka na Lang. #DuterteMeltdown.”
Puro ka reklamo, tsismis at kabastusan. President ka ba o tambay sa kanto? Magtrabaho ka na Lang. #DuterteMeltdown
— bituin escalante (@gobituin) November 18, 2020
Even politician Leila de Lima chimed in as the President got pissed by Robredo’s relief efforts.
She tweeted, “Balita ko napikon si Duterte kagabi. May kasabihan: Biruin mo na ang lasing, wag lang ang bagong gising.”
Balita ko napikon si Duterte kagabi. May kasabihan: Biruin mo na ang lasing, wag lang ang bagong gising.
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) November 18, 2020
As for actor Kiko Rustia, he is proud that finally, the Vice President finally took a stand against the tirade of the President. He supports Robredo as she fights the whole Duterte administration.
Kiko tweeted, “Matagal ko na inaantay na pumalag ka sa pang aabuso ni Duterte sayo Ma’am @lenirobredo. Nasa likod mo kami. #NasiraanAngPangulo.”
Matagal ko na inaantay na pumalag ka sa pang aabuso ni Duterte sayo Ma’am @lenirobredo.
Nasa likod mo kami.#NasiraanAngPangulo https://t.co/eGxyH831SK
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) November 17, 2020
Comedian-director John Lapus even had time to made fun of Duterte. With him throwing a fit, Lapus could only tweet that the President is ‘drunk’.
“Tay lasing ka na naman!” Lapus said.
Tay lasing ka na naman! 😭😭😭
— John Lapus (@KorekKaJohn) November 17, 2020
Producer Tristan Zinampan was disappointed that the President didn’t walk out in the middle of his speech.
He wrote, “Disappointed di nag walkout si Duterte in the middle of his #DuterteMeltdown and then lumabas si Bong Go para sumigaw ng ‘Respeto naman, guys!’”
https://twitter.com/tristanzinampan/status/1328840035127312386
While celebrities and politicians shared their comments about Duterte’s tirade, some netizens were also shocked and angered by President Duterte’s attack on Robredo.
@engineerdoveva wrote that the president is incompetent, insecure, and incoherent. She also said that the Filipinos deserve a better leader.
❗️INCOMPETENT❗️
❗️INSECURE❗️
❗️INCOHERENT❗️
WE 👏🏼 DESERVE 👏🏼 BETTER 👏🏼#NasiraanAngPangulo #DuterteMeltdown #NaasarAngPangulo#DuterteMentalBreakdown— shi🪷 (@klareyskin) November 18, 2020
Twitter user @lucyms7 observed that Duterte is threatened by women who were strong and empowered.
In her tweet she said, “He’s always felt threatened by strong, empowered women, what else is new #DuterteMeltdown #DuterteMentalBreakdown.”
He's always felt threatened by strong, empowered women, what else is new?#DuterteMeltdown #DuterteMentalBreakdown pic.twitter.com/r5ARxnrEsp
— lucyms (@lucyms7) November 17, 2020
Even the previous statement of the President wherein he was open for criticism didn’t escape the netizens’.
@allokdalokddeul wrote, “If you should criticize me, do it. It’s your job. Kamusta na? #NasiraanAngPangulo #DuterteMeltdown #DuterteMentalBreakdown.”
https://twitter.com/allokdalokddeul/status/1328972093526970370
Francis Baraan IV tweeted a list of those whose lives were destroyed.
LIST OF WOMEN WHOSE LIVES & CAREERS DUTERTE & THE DDS HAVE THREATENED TO RUIN:
Leila de Lima
Maria Ressa
Conchita Carpio-Morales
Maria Lourdes Sereno
Pia Ranada
Catriona Gray
Angel Locsin
Kathryn BernardoAnd his favorite "COMPETITOR":
VP LENI ROBREDO.#NasiraanAngPangulo
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) November 18, 2020
He also added that the reason the #DuterteMentalBreakdown is still going because people couldn’t get over what made Duterte lambast and humiliate the Vice President.
He said, “#DuterteMentalBreakdown is STILL TRENDING, b/c people couldn’t get over Duterte’s verbal diarrhea & bitch fit last night vs VP Leni Robredo. He practically dedicated his presscon to lambasting, threatening, & gaslighting Leni, instead of thanking her for helping other people.”
#DuterteMentalBreakdown is STILL TRENDING, b/c people couldn't get over Duterte's verbal diarrhea & bitch fit last night vs VP Leni Robredo.
He practically dedicated his presscon to lambasting, threatening, & gaslighting Leni, instead of thanking her for helping other people.🙄
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) November 18, 2020
Counter against #NasiraanAngPangulo and #DuterteMeltdown
With netizens using the #NasiraanAngPangulo and #DuterteMeltdown to attack the President, a #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo also became a trending topic to support and defend Duterte.
However, the subject matter was made by government officials, bots, and spammers in order to rebut the assault on the president.
@sh3ysh3y tweeted, “To the man who’s fighting tirelessly for us Filipinos. We love you & we will always stand by you, President Duterte. #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo.” This is her defense against the critics of Duterte.
To the man who’s fighting tirelessly for us Filipinos. We love you & we will always stand by you, President Duterte. 👊🇵🇭
#NasaPusoKoAngPangulo pic.twitter.com/YKJJCWVCHf— ~ Shay Patino ~ (@shay_patino) November 17, 2020
@BangChandam a fan of KPOP even had the time to support the president who was rude to a woman.
The Twitter user said, “[Not Kpop Related] I AM A FILIPINO, THIS IS MY PRESIDENT AND I SUPPORT HIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE BEST PRESIDENT WE EVER HAVE! I LOVE YOU TATAY DIGONG! #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo.”
https://twitter.com/BangChandam/status/1328705751129280513
A netizen who supports Duterte even posted a photo that had nothing to do with the issue. “LOUD and CLEAR #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo.”
https://twitter.com/JurcalesKaren/status/1328708674349457410
A netizen even became emotional over the hashtag stating that the president is in their hearts.
Emotional for this hashtag 🥺🇵🇭❤️#NasaPusoKoAngPangulo
— Pong 😎 (@pongdelrosario) November 17, 2020
Fake claims, yet again
Presidential Communications Operations Office recently claimed that netizens back the President. They also declared that the #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo took the no. 1 spot on Twitter.
PCOO says netizens back President after #DuterteMeltdown trends https://t.co/6TpcFIa5Mb
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 18, 2020
However, this claim is false. trends24.in, a trends tracker showed that it never took the top spot. The hashtag that PCOO claimed to be no. 1 was quickly covered by other topics.
PCOO falsely claims #NasaPusoKoAngPangulo topped the PH trends on Twitter Tuesday night as proof of support for Pres. Duterte. Trends tracker https://t.co/AilHNk93yC however showed it never took the top spot, as #DuterteMeltdown and later on #NasiraanAngPangulo were no. 1. pic.twitter.com/biZ2cPRMSE
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 18, 2020
The hashtags were the result of Duterte’s address to the nation regarding the state of Cagayan Valley and other affected regions of the Philippines wherein he spent the time lambasting Vice President Leni Robredo for her relief efforts. He was also pissed due to false claims by his subordinates that the Vice President was looking for him to take action during the typhoon’s onslaught. With at least 72 dead and 19 still missing, the first thing that Duterte addressed is why Robredo was working.