Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised interview on Tuesday was a lightning rod for netizens’ jeers, jokes, and memes, but not everyone is laughing at this tweet by journalist Raissa Robles.

Although posted on Tuesday, the tweet has since gone viral, with many criticizing Robles for what many think was a bad joke about Duterte’s accent.

Her tweet reads: “Duterte just now said that the communists are engaged in ‘armed stragol.'”

Note that she spelled “struggle” the way Duterte pronounced it in the interview.

Duterte just now said that the communists are engaged in "armed stragol". — Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) September 11, 2018





Duterte is from Davao, a part of Visayas island where Cebuano is the mother tongue. While Filipino (a standardized form of Tagalog) and English are the Philippines’ official languages, there are actually over 100 languages and dialects in the country.

The Visayan accent has long been the butt of jokes in mainstream Philippine pop culture, which is why many were annoyed by Robles’ comment.

Earlier today, Duterte’s Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go tweeted a screenshot of Robles’ tweet saying in Filipino and English: “Coming from the ‘Upperclass, self-proclaimed righteous, Prayed over hypocrites’. Can you dilawan not think of anything else [to criticize] that you even target the diction of Visayans?”

Dilawan (Of yellow) is a term Duterte supporters use to refer to those who support the opposition party, which is associated with the color yellow.

Coming from the " Upperclass, self proclaimed righteous, Prayed over hypocrites ". Wala na talaga kayong maisip pati pananalita o Diction ng Bisaya pinuponterya nyo mga Dilawan. Alalahanin nyo IBA MAGALIT ANG MGA BISAYA #ProudBISDAK #Bisaya pic.twitter.com/LWdJGSFfW9 — Bong Go (@sap_bong_go) September 12, 2018





Like Duterte, Go is also from Davao.

While some see this as just another way for Duterte’s supporters to vilify critics, even those who don’t normally support the administration were angered by the tweet.

Actress Chai Fonacier, who hails from Cebu, also called Robles out on Twitter.

“I don’t like Duterte but maaan don’t make fun of our accent. Manila screams Pinoy Pinoy so much but doesn’t know how to truly appreciate diversity,” she wrote yesterday.

I don't like Duterte but maaan don't make fun of our accent. Manila screams Pinoy Pinoy so much but doesn't know how to truly appreciate diversity. PH languages don't have the schwa sound which is why tagalogs say Traysikel & Cebuanos say traysikol. Different is not bad. Kapish? — Chai Fonacier (@rrrabidcat) September 12, 2018





She continued to share her thoughts on the issue.

“And people wonder why we’re bitter to an extent? We get microaggressions enough to fill a whole night’s worth of talk over buckets of beer. Don’t get me started.”

And people wonder why we're bitter to an extent? We get microaggressions enough to fill a whole night's worth of talk over buckets of beer. Don't get me started. — Chai Fonacier (@rrrabidcat) September 12, 2018





In following tweets, Fonacier also shared what she called “microaggressions” Visayans experience in Manila. Some of her examples included people saying “Speak in Tagalog, you’re in Manila” and some calling Visayans and their language baduy (not cool).

The issue has sparked other Visayans to share their own struggles with discrimination in Manila.

“100%. Made my blood boil whenever they made fun of it. Made a few people shut up when I pointed it out to them,” Twitter user @lostsephy said.

100%. Made my blood boil whenever they made fun of it. Made a few people shut up when I pointed it out to them. — Joseph (@lostsephy) September 13, 2018





Despite all the backlash, Robles seems to stand by her tweet. She has responded to multiple people who called her out and even questioned why critics reacted the way they did.

“Now I get it. Filipinos can make some observations about American accents but NOT THE VISAYAN ACCENT.”

She also said that people have been “brainwashed” about there being an “Imperial Mla (Manila).”

Now I get it. Filipinos can make some observations about American accents but NOT THE VISAYAN ACCENT. Have you heard about the Pampango accent and the Nueva Ecija accents? They exist but we don't get mad when others point that out. You've been brainwashed abt "Imperial Mla." — Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) September 12, 2018

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