Sara Duterte slams 3 senators for being opportunists, ungrateful

Davao City Mayor and President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter Sara Carpio on Thursday slammed three opposition senators for being "opportunists" who allegedly sought help from the Dutertes during the 2016 elections, but now have turned against the family.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes IV, members of opposition cause-oriented group "Tindig Pilipinas", were the subjects of Duterte-Carpio's tirade posted on her Facebook account on October 12.

In the post, she also called Tindig Pilipinas "Hunger Games Pilipinas," after the three-fingered salute reminiscent of a similar sign from the Hunger Games novels and films. Tindig Pilipinas has been critical of President Duterte's actions and pronouncements.

"Matanong ko lang, nung mga panahon na humingi kayo ng tulong, may isyu ba kayo sa governance ni PRD [President Rodrigo Duterte]? Wala. Ngayon na nanalo na siya? Meron. Hunger Games, Pilipinas: Plastic na, oportunista pa."  

These three senators have presidential ambitions, Sara said.

"Kayong tato may ambisyon mag Presidente. I grew up in politics, mas matagal pako sa pulitika kesa itinagal ninyong tatlo combined. I smell ambition a million miles away."  

She claimed she has "personal knowledge" and "corroborative witnesses" of the actions of the three senators.

Vice President Leni Robredo was spared from Sara's accusations. "I'll reserve my remarks kasi sabi mo naman hindi ka member ng Hunger Games Pilipinas." 

Senator [Francis] Pangilinan, according to the mayor's post, allegedly visited then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a golf club in Davao City several years ago to seek his endorsement for a presidential bid.

"'With Sharon's endorsement and your (PRD) endorsement I'm sure I can make it,'" Sara quoted Pangilinan as saying.

"Dati pa-endorse ka sa kanya ngayon may pa hunger games salute effect ka," the daughter of the president added, mocking the copied three-fingered salute of Tindig Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio slammed Hontiveros also for seeking her help to get votes in Davao City.

"Habang tinutulungan ko si PRD at ang nanay ko mangampanya, nasa byaheng du30 ako, ilang beses mo ako inabala, kinulit at tinawagan para humingi ka ng tulong sa boto mo sa Davao City?" 

"I can remember your bored face listening to me in our law office just so you can get support for Davao," Sara added.

Trillanes, meanwhile, had sought help from now-president Duterte for his vice presidential campaign, Sara claimed.

"Years ago, nag-request ka makipag kita sa akin dito sa Davao, nasa Damosa ka, ano sabi ko sa emissary mo? No. You know why? I never liked your circus sa Manila Peninsula. Pero meron ako picture na nakipagkita ka kay PRD kasi humingi ka ng tulong niya sa VP campaign mo." 

"Akala ninyo yung circus ninyo ngayon magpapanalo sa inyo sa 2022? Hindi. Ano ititindig niyo? Paninindigang Trapo," she added.

Sara warned the three senators against "using" the president when convenient.

"You don't use PRD whenever convenient para sa pulitika ninyo. Kung wala ang boto ng Mindanao, mananalo kaya kayo?" says her post that now has around 22,000 reactions and nearly 12,000 shares.

GMA News Online was trying to get comments from the three senators  as of posting time. —LBG, GMA News