MANILA, Philippines – Whether he is serious or not, President Rodrigo Duterte yet again surprised his critics by a sudden “admission” of the “only sin” he committed on the course of his presidency and that is extrajudicial killings.
The President did not elaborate what he meant but he was directing his statement to Liberal Party president and opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan who, according to Duterte, presented himself as faultless.
“Siya [Pangilinan) pa ‘yung presidente ng Liberal. Tignan mo, pati siya hindi manalo ‘yan… What are your sins? … sabi ko nga sa military, anong kasalanan ko? Nagnakaw ba ako diyan ni piso? Sige daw. Did I prosecute somebody na ipinakulong ko? Ang kasalanan ko lang ang mga extrajudicial killing,” the President said on Thursday, September 27, during the oath-taking of career government officials in Malacañang.
President Duterte went on to criticize the International Criminal Court (ICC) for filing a complaint against him over thousands of drug-related deaths.
“But what right are you here to… You are actually exercising functions which you are not supposed to do. It belongs to the government. At the very least, you are committing usurpation of authority,” the President said referring to ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who initiated the investigation on alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
The President later justified that the killings were intended at “fools” but blamed most of the crimes to the so-called “ninja cops” or police scalawags indulge in corruption.
“I know that there are policemen that… Ito ‘yung mga ninja na ano. And they are the ones killing. Iyong hindi ka maka-remit sa kanila. It’s an organized crime actually,” President Duterte said.
As expected, critics of the administration were quick to react to the President’s statement.
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay called the attention of the ICC regarding Duterte’s “admission.”
“Here’s the President of the Republic of the Philippines, making a public admission of crimes under your jurisdiction. Please act ASAP. Thank you,” he said.
Meanwhile, United Nations special rapporteur on Extra-Judicial summary or arbitrary Executions Agnes Callamard who had received the strongest remarks from Duterte also tweeted that the Philippine president in his statement had just “destroyed the rule of law.” – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz)
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