By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: PCOO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday echoed the recent claim by his close ally Senator Christopher “Bong” Go that Lapulapu was from Mindanao and that he was a Tausug. 

"He was Tausug. Hindi nila alam, those who are debating, ang mga Bisaya kung makinig lang sila nang mabuti they can make out what a Tausug is talking about,” Duterte said during a speech at Camp Siongco in Maguindanao. 

The President even called those who do not believe his remark as “pilosopo.”

However, according to NHCP Chairperson Rene Escalante, citing Venetian Chronicer Antonio Pigafetta, Lapulapu was a chieftain of Mactan Island and there is no available information on where he was born.

“NHCP considers other popular accounts and stories outside of these historical sources as speculative and folkloric and should not be regarded as established facts of history," said Escalante in a statement released last April 30.

Go, his longtime aide, has since apologized for his claim.


RELATED ARTICLE: Rappler