President Duterte (Malacañang Photo)
The hashtag #DuterteDuwag (Duterte is a coward) trended on Twitter on Friday afternoon immediately after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced that the Chief Executive will no longer engage in a debate with Carpio on issues related to the disputed waters.
#DuterteDuwag got 27.8 thousand tweets as of 6 p.m. on May 7 while Carpio got 23.5 thousand tweets.
The tweets that contained the hashtag #DuterteDuwag poked fun at the President with most tweets pointing out that he was the one who initiated the debate challenge with the retired magistrate.
#DuterteDuwag trends on Twitter after President Duterte backed out from his debate challenge to Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
President Duterte (Malacañang Photo)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Duterte ordered the withdrawal of some 1,000 jabs of the Chinese-made vaccines from the Philippines on Wednesday because they have not been granted an emergency use authorization by the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In his press briefing on Thursday, Roque said the Sinopharm vaccines would be sent back to China but President Duterte’s second dose would be secured.
“Siyempre, hindi ibabalik yung pang-second dose ni Presidente, para matapos niya ang second dose niya (Definitely we will not be returning his second dose so he can complete the vaccination),” he said.
President Duterte (Malacañang photo)
In his message, Duterte said the country has found new meaning in the annual commemoration of Labor Day.
“This year, we honor our Filipino workers who–fueled not just by the desire to support their families and advance their careers–have tirelessly toiled these past several months to ensure that our society will continue to function in the face of an unprecedented health crisis that crippled industries across the world,” he said.
President Duterte’s Labor Day message (May 1, 2021)
The President, in particular, turned the spotlight on essential frontliners and thanked them for their commitment to keeping the country afloat amid the pandemic.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque noted the President has already offered to leave the post if he would lose the support of the military.
“Absolutely walang (there is no) necessity,” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, when asked if a loyalty check on the military will be conducted.
“Sabi ni Presidente kung ayaw sa kanya ng military, uuwi siya ng Davao (The President said if the military won’t back him, he will go home to Davao),” he added.
President Duterte earlier offered to step down if the military would no longer support his government over the West Philippine Sea dispute. Duterte, addressing the nation Monday April 19, said he would instead return home, adding he would “not work where I am not needed.”