COMMUNICATIONS Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday portrayed European officials who criticized President Rodrigo Duterte as sex maniacs while Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines would still accept aid from the European Union as long as no conditions were attached that affect the nation’s sovereignty.
In a meeting in London with Duterte supporters, Andanar used the Visayan term “palaiyot,” which means someone given to excessive indulgence in sexual activity, to describe lower-level EU officials who criticized the administration.
“Iyong mga maiingay na pala-iyot, iyong mga maiingay, alam mo, ang problema sa kanila, hanggang ingay lang. Wala namang napatunayan. Kung tatanungin mo iyong kanilang mga Prime Minister, Presidente, iyon talagang namamahala sa kanilang bansa, pati sila sumusuporta kay Presidente Duterte,” Andanar said on a video posted on the internet.
(The noisy sex maniacs,you know, their problem is that all they can do is make noise. They can prove nothing. If you ask their prime minister or president, those who are really in charge of their country, even they support President Duterte.)
He said Duterte’s critics should just have more sex instead of criticizing the President.
In a text message to Manila Standard, Andanar confirmed that it was him in the video, referring to organizations in Europe criticizing Duterte.
“Amongst DDS people, it was a comment made in jest,” he said.
In a separate video, Andanar claimed that those critical of Duterte do “have their own agenda.”
He said they were even bringing up the human rights of the Maute terrorist group and Isnilon Hapilon, the Abu Sayyaf leader who was tagged as the emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia.
Andanar was in the United Kingdom with Communications Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan to attend a two-day conference in Brighton called “Making All Voices Count, Policy and Practice Dialogue.”
In Manila, Duterte said the EU could “go to hell” if they won’t listen to his denials about the “fake news” regarding his war on drugs.
His statement came ahead of his meeting next month with Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council during the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which he chairs, Special Envoy to the EU Edgardo Angara confirmed.
“I’ve been trying to explain to them, but I said to them—if they listen to him [Angara], fine. But if not, they can go to hell,” Duterte said, chiding the EU for its ignorance about the recent spate of deaths in the country.
Duterte scored critics for believing “bloated” figures on the drug-related killings in the country, calling them “fake news.”
In a chance interview, Angara said Duterte’s “mild outbursts” were directed at those who come here in the country representing themselves as the EU delegation when in reality, they were “progressive liberal groupings.”
“It’s not a tirade against the EU. It’s a tirade against those who claim that there were 10,000 Filipinos who were extrajudiciously killed,” Angara said.
He also said that trade relations with the EU will continue, but conditional grants will no longer be allowed.
Angara expressed confidence that a bilateral meet will transpire between Duterte and Tusk.
Tusk will be visiting the country as a Special Guest of the Asean chairman, as the regional bloc celebrates its 50th year.
Cayetano, meanwhile, said the Philippines will continue to accept aid from the European Union except those with conditions, backtracking from his earlier pronouncements rejecting all forms of aid.
In a chance interview, Cayetano insisted that only foreign donations that come with “conditionalities that will affect our sovereignty” will be rejected, following his meeting with EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen Tuesday.
“If you’re going to give us conditionalities that will affect our sovereignty, to give you the right to interfere into our domestic affairs, we will not accept that donation.”
“If it will not affect our sovereignty, then everyone is free to help,” he told Palace reporters at Manila’s South Harbor.
After clearing the issue with the President, Cayetano said that the rule does not apply only to the EU, but to all countries.
Foreign assistance that comes with certain conditions may be given directly to Filipinos through non-government organizations, Cayetano said.
“Will the people not suffer? No, because you can give it directly to the people. So for example, the US, they used the international organizations. Even [the European Union] gives some of the money to the International Red Cross,” Cayetano said.
“Let me make that clear. It will not hurt the people, specific beneficiaries,” he added.
Cayetano earlier claimed that the EU might use “agreements” in line with donations “as an excuse to criticize us on certain aspects of our governance.”
Cayetano said that this policy would also be applied in terms of grants for the benefit of those affected by the Marawi City siege.
“So the question should now be addressed to the EU. Are they willing to give without conditionalities or if the conditionalities are there, are they willing to do it through international organizations?” he said.
The EU is the second top destination of Philippine exports, a major donor of the Philippines, and the fourth biggest source of overseas Filipino workers’ remittances.
In the House, two opposition lawmakers denounced as “utterly rude and unprofessional” Andanar’s remark about EU officials.
Representatives Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list and Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list called for Andanar’s resignation.
“I think Andanar should tender his resignation for such despicable behavior. It is highly condemnable to portray the EU in such language,” Villarin said.
“As a journalist he should know better than treat critics in such a way. As a Cabinet official he is not entitled to such utterances that demean our country and people,” Villarin added.
