On Friday, November 19, celebrities were disappointed and amused by President Rodrigo Duterte, who did not name the presidential candidate he said was using cocaine.
Duterte earlier on Thursday accused a personality of being a “weak leader” and a “drug user”.
“There’s even a presidential candidate na nag-cocaine… May kandidato tayo na nagko-cocaine ‘yan, mga anak ng mayaman.
“Kaya nga nagtaka ako, anong nagawa, anong gawa ng taong ‘yan? I’m just asking. What contribution has he made para sa Pilipinas?… Bakit ang Pilipino parang lokong-loko na supporting? Magtanong lang ako sa inyo, ano ang ginawa n’yan? Nagdo-droga ‘yan ng cocaine ang tirada n’yan,” said Duterte during a meeting of the joint national and regional task force to end local communist armed conflict in Mindoro.
Meanwhile, celebrities were disgusted by Duterte not revealing the candidate’s name since he “hates drugs” so much.
Hashtag member Nikko Natividad even compared the poor victims of his war on drugs campaign subjected to arrests while the rich roam free.
— NikkoDAKS (@Hashtag_nikko13) November 19, 2021
Award-winning photographer Ezra Acayan also shared the same sentiment with Natividad as he posted a photo of a victim of Duterte’s war on drugs with a caption, “‘Pag mayaman, blind item. ‘Pag mahirap…”
Pag mayaman, blind item.
Pag mahirap, pic.twitter.com/LywiwOFQlO
— Ezra Acayan (@eacayan) November 19, 2021
Actor Bart Guingona ranted that the unnamed personality was a “convict” and now an alleged drug user, yet many still defended the candidate.
Convict na drug user pa. Tapos may nagtatanggol pa. Ganun bang kalala ang pagka bulag ng mga yan?
— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) November 19, 2021
Guingona then shared a meme representing the blind item of Duterte and expressed how he loved Pinoy humor.
Gotta looove Pinoy wit!!! https://t.co/qBjpOCcqhX
— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) November 19, 2021
TV personality Justin Dizon pointed that the President does not need to shroud the candidate in mystery and instead charge him with the appropriate case. He then realized that Duterte would not do that since the accused was a wealthy and powerful man.
Kung alam pala nila that *presidential candidate* and “anak ng mayaman” uses cocaine, bakit hindi nila kinasuhan in the first place?
Diba may “war on drugs”?
They have all the resources to conduct a case buildup and press charges.
Ay wait…mayaman at makapangyarihan nga pala.
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) November 19, 2021
Meanwhile, other celebrities poked fun at Duterte’s mysterious candidate.
Singer Leah Navarro loved the drama and could not decide which popcorn flavor she wanted while “watching.”
Oooh the tear down has begun!
Hmmm it’s dramarama time… cheddar cheese flavor or caramel corn…? https://t.co/SjeaUFiGWP
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) November 18, 2021
Ramon Bautista also poked fun at Duterte’s revelation, saying that the Duterte government does not need to test the candidate since they have a “Maritest,” a gossiper.
Aanhin ang drug test kung meron namang Maritest hihi
— Ramon Bautista (@ramonbautista) November 18, 2021
Celebrity radio host DJ Chacha teased that gossip mongers await the President’s next blind item.
Abang na abang na po ang mga Maritess sa next blind item ni Tatay Rodz.
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) November 18, 2021
Actor-comedian Gabe Mercado admitted he was “struggling” to identify the person behind Duterte’s blind item and even sought some clues from the netizens.
GUYS, HIRAP NA HIRAP AKO!
Hindi ko talaga mafigure out kung sino.
Pakitag naman siya sa replies para may clue ako! https://t.co/G2ndR2RemA
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) November 18, 2021
Musician Jim Paredes, on the other hand, was “surprised” by Duterte’s allegation.
https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1461307924874022916
In another tweet, Paredes questioned the statement of Commission on Election (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez who said that a candidate would not be disqualified in the running for a public office even if they are using drugs.
https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1461599759265763333
A Netizen then named two of the biggest names involved in drugs: Julian Ongpin and Jefry Tupas. He then pointed that the two are still free and alive since they were rich and powerful.
https://twitter.com/angeri_aries/status/1460311294922268677?s=20
Senator Leila de Lima, imprisoned during Duterte’s term after being a heavy critic of his antics, also expressed her thoughts regarding the matter.
De Lima noted that the President already knew the identification of the cocaine addict but did not show his relentlessness to pursue and apprehend the presidential aspirant.
The senator also pointed the obvious as she said that Duterte allowed the candidate to roam free. At the same time, she, on the other hand, suffered four years in prison without any supporting evidence to convict her of her charges.
Duterte says a presidential candidate is a cocaine addict, and he seems to have known it all along.
While unnamed, it’s pretty obvious who he’s referring to. Kung ganoon, dapat pala siya ang pinakulong mo, hindi ako. Hindi ba kasama ang cocaine sa drug war mo?
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) November 19, 2021
Those running for the country’s top office are presidential aspirants Ernesto Abella, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, labor leader Leody de Guzman, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
