During a speech in Sydney, Australia on March 22, Hontiveros encountered Australian based Filipina Lotti Dilag who questioned her stand on President Rodrigo Duterte's war against drugs.
Hontiveros has been advocating for the investigation of the United Nations on the recent war against drugs.
Dilag criticized the Senator's loyalty to the country as statements such as hers would make for a stained reputation for the Philippines.
"You were demanding that the President allows the UN to come into the Philippines and investigate. Where is the honor in that? How can we be honorable when we malign our own community, our own people, in suggesting that there are crimes going on done by the government, against its own people. Parang hindi fair na kami nagpapakahirap na baguhin ang imahe ng mga Pilipino at ng Pilipinas sa international community," she said, adding that OFW's are being affected because they are the ones on the frontiers.
Tiquia went to the defense of the OFW and criticized how Hontiveros painted Duterte as a murderer.
"So, a Senator of the land disses her country abroad? Are we under a dictatorship for you to do that? Good an OFW stands against you! An OFW! She works hard for her family and contributes to country while you traveled n will be spending taxpayers money while on official business, only to shoot us, who pays your salary," she said.
She questioned what happened to Hontiveros while she worked under the Aquino administration, and called her a "shame".
Tiquia also expressed her disappointment at how Duterte is being attacked by the media.
"Who halted the illegal drugs campaign to ensure problems met in operation are settled? Who directed rogue police be identified n disciplined by sending them to hardship posts? Who stood by Col. Marcos, et al and said let the Rule of Law take place? And indeed the Rule of Law found Marcos et al guilty of the death of Espinosa? Who reached out to the author of #PalitUlo? ,"
"Who broke protocol to talk to the VP at the PNPA? Who invited the VP n her kids to dinner? And you have the gall to say let the two leaders meet n build consensus? Sino ba ang sumisira sa Pilipinas?" Tiquia said.
Source: Malou Tiquia
