A Senate full of President Duterte’s “yes men” would not be good for democracy.

That in a nutshell is the response of the opposition team Otso Diretso to the President’s comments mocking its candidates for always criticizing his administration.

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Mr. Duterte again attacked the opposition candidates in an administration campaign rally in Zamboanga City on Sunday night, calling their team a coalition going “straight to hell.”

“Diretso,” Filipino for the Spanish “derecho,” means “straight.”

“Who will you vote for, that Otso Diretso straight to hell?” Mr. Duterte said, addressing the crowd. “These people have done nothing but criticize” the administration, he said.

Otso Diretso responded on Monday, with human rights lawyer Chel Diokno saying the opposition’s role is to “question, criticize and offer an alternative to how government is being run.”

Don’t be ‘onion-skinned’

“The President should not be onion-skinned—this is the mark of a democracy,” Diokno said in a statement

He recalled the words of his father, the late statesman Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno: “Yes men are not compatible with democracy. We can strengthen our leaders by pointing out what they are doing that is wrong.”

Other Otso Diretso candidates also reminded Mr. Duterte of the importance of opposition to a democratic government.

Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay made a similar point in a separate statement.

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“We are still a democracy and not a dictatorship, aren’t we? Don’t take it personally. We’re just doing our job,” he said in Filipino.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said Mr. Duterte should be reminded that May’s midterm elections were not just about him.

Challenge to debate

“The election in May is not centered on you who think the only qualifications of those running are to be quiet and nod their heads to your wishes. This election is for the Filipinos’ future,” Alejano said in Filipino.

“Lawmaking is a serious job to help Filipinos. Let’s not make this a comedy,” he added.

Former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada repeated his call for a debate with the administration candidates “so the President need not speak for his candidates.”

“The role of the opposition is to question, criticize and propose alternative solutions that provide better opportunities to our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said: “With due respect, Mr. President, our running for office is about platform and conviction. It’s always about country.”

Malacañang said the public should not take Mr. Duterte’s comments seriously.

“Maybe he was just trying to crack a joke,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Monday. “You know he always tries to make people laugh in those situations.”

Panelo, however, said there was nothing wrong with Mr. Duterte’s remarks.

Only 2 came to PICC

“You must remember that the President has his own candidates and under the law he can endorse or campaign against. So there’s nothing wrong as far as I am concerned,” Panelo said.

The rally of the administration coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in Zamboanga City lasted up to 2 a.m. so that only two of the candidates made it to the group’s rally at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday, former Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa and journalist Jiggy Manicad.

Dela Rosa, who led the PNP’s crackdown on narcotics in Mr. Duterte’s brutal war on drugs that killed thousands of mostly poor, small-time users and pushers, apologized to the crowd for the absence of most of the administration team’s candidates, citing the previous night’s rally in Zamboanga.

The other candidates sent representatives or campaign videos.

The leader of HNP, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said in an interview that members of the team were not obligated to attend every rally.

“They are not mandated to attend all the scheduled events because we understand that they have other prearranged activities,” Duterte said.

Tacloban campaign

Campaigning in Tacloban City on Monday, reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara, an administration candidate, said Duterte had not missed a single HNP event.

“Many of us miss events. We are already tired. But she’s always there, morning till evening, from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao. We give it to her,” Angara said.

Angara reiterated his stand not to debate with opposition candidates.

“They will only use it as a venue to hit us,” he said. —WITH REPORTS FROM JULIE M. AURELIO, JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE AND JOEY A. GABIETA

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