Duterte calls Drilon a ‘hypocrite’ for allegedly defending the Lopezes

President Rodrigo Duterte called Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon a “hypocrite” during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Monday.

Duterte accused Drilon of defending the Lopezes and for pushing the anti-dynasty law in the country.

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“You are a hypocrite. You know you cannot pass an anti-dynasty law. You are there in Congress, take the lead,” Duterte said. “You proceed to characterize everyone, saying that oligarchy is not bad at all.”

Duterte added today’s oligarchs are the same as those during the Spanish times, citing the “oligarchy that controls the Philippines by taking control of the water, electricity, and power.”

“That’s your oligarchy, Drilon,” he said.

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The 75-year-old President claimed Drilon sided and defended the Lopez family, who owns the now-closed ABS-CBN Corporation.

Duterte also revealed Drilon’s alleged role in drafting the concessionaire contract for the Ayala-owned Manila Water.

“You know… I’d like to ask Drilon: were you a part of ACCRA when this contract of Ayala water was being drafted? Why are you fuming? Bakit kasi ikaw lang ang galit, nasabi mo na dynasty, dynasty?” the President said.

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“You do not protect the oligarchs here. You are the only one. I suspect you were the one who helped when you were with ACCRA,” said Duterte. “Ayala got ACCRA, and ACCRA did it.”

“Hinawakan ninyo ang mga tubig at mga kumpanya (You took hold of water and other companies), that’s oligarchy,” he said.

“The best of lines, whatever, the government gets it before whoever,” Duterte added.

Duterte, in the early part of his speech, also called Drilon to be part of “opportunists” who took advantage of the crisis.

“My countrymen, it is sad that while the government focuses its attention and resources (on battling) the coronavirus, there are those who take advantage of a preoccupied government,” he said.

“One of them is Sen. Frank Drilon. In an interview, he arrogantly mentioned among others that oligarchs need not be rich. Then he linked the anti-dynasty system with oligarchy and the topic was my daughter and son. This happened after the committee on franchise voted 70-11 to deny the grant of franchise to ABS-CBN. Obviously, he was defending the Lopezes that they are not oligarchs,” he added.

Drilon earlier challenged Duterte to support the passage of Anti-Dynasty law if he really wanted to abolish oligarchy in the country.