SOME candidates in the upcoming local and national elections are savvy—they know how to play to the emotions of their prospective voters; they know talking like an intellectual in a Philippine political landscape could turn off the electorate.During campaign sorties or media interviews, some of these aspirants often discuss problems of the ordinary Filipinos like injustices borne out of poverty.As it is often the case, candidates will make promises to solve the problems. They speak with authority as if they are the saviors of the nation beset with troubles; some of them speak as if they know what they are talking about, not knowing that their statements are offensive.Such is the case of popular broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, the frontrunner in the senatorial race in the May 9, 2022 polls. In a recent television interview, the candidate said he was considering forming a legal assistance desk if he’s elected to the Senate.The assistance desk, said Tulfo, would work with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) as this office attached to the Department of Justice has often been absent in cases involving the poor. Though she did not mention Tulfo’s full name in her Facebook post, PAO’s Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta, referring to Tulfo as “Mr. T,” hit at the candidate, saying he must “spare PAO politics.”The PAO chief said her office is “acting on your referrals although PAO lawyers and staff are overworked.” Acosta was referring to Tulfo’s popular public service program “Raffy Tulfo in Action,” which caters to various problems such as complaints against government officials and private entities, couples in marital troubles, online entrepreneurs not paid by their customers.Raffy Tulfo, if one is to review some of his broadcasts available on YouTube, would lambast on air a government official who is subject of a complaint. The broadcaster would act like he is the supreme court of broadcasting, and his style has been criticized for not letting the subjects of complaints undergo due process. Tulfo is just acting tough for ratings.Describing PAO lawyers as “can’t really perform” is being insensitive, especially to public lawyers who are doing their duties. Tulfo must know also that the primary job of a senator, if he would become one, is to craft laws.Would voters trust candidates who made insensitive remarks? Can these candidates author sensitive laws when they are elected into office?