Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque | PCOO
MANILA, Philippines – “Hindi na naman iyan seryoso.”
This was how Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque described President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark on extrajudicial killings which made his critics believe it was an admission of guilt.
Roque said the President was actually stressing a more important point which the critics missed, and that is — that he never had a single stain of corruption.
“It’s also na idinidiin lang niya na talagang hindi siya nagnanakaw. Pero I don’t think na ang konteksto niyan ay literal. That’s the President being himself, being playful, highlighting the point na hindi siya corrupt,” said Roque.
Roque also explained in a radio interview that the President’s statement was not self-incriminating because it was not done under oath.
Chief presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, was also quick to defend the President on the EJK issue saying he actually meant otherwise.
“Ang ibig niyang sabihin, ‘Ang isyu lang laban sa akin ay extrajudicial killings,’ iyon ang ibig sabihin nun. Alam mo, Bisaya si Presidente,” Panelo said.
President Duterte’s drug war has earned massive criticisms not only in the Philippines but around the world.
Complaints have been filed in the International Criminal Court against the President for his role in the alleged mass murder of drug suspects under his anti-illegal drugs campaign. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz)
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