Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
Malacañang disagrees with observations that law enforcement in the country is weak, hence the prevalence of killings by the Davao Death Squad.
Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma also said public officials are expected to uphold the rule of law.
“Well, hindi tayo sang-ayon diyan sa obserbasyon na ‘yan. Ang ating paniwala ay rule of law o batas ang umiiral sa ating bansa at tungkulin ng Pangulo bilang chief executive na ipatupad ang lahat ng mga batas at ang pinaniniwalaan nating prinsipyo ay ito: Na ang mga lingkod-bayan ay dapat na pinaiiral din ang batas,” Coloma said.
The Palace stopped short of condemning the alleged ties of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with the Davao Death Squad, saying the allegation should be backed by evidence.
It said it is letting the Department of Justice conduct the appropriate steps.
“Doon kasi sa sistema natin ng batas ay meron naman tayong mga proseso. Hindi naman uubra ‘yung mga salita lamang. Kinakailangan ay evidence-based at iyon nga meron naman tayong sistema ng due process. Hindi din tayo pwedeng maghusga o mag-kondena na batay sa salita lamang,” Coloma said.
Duterte has come under fire for allegedly confirming his links to the Davao Death Squad during an interview with Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa.
He remained unapologetic about his actions and even dared the New York-based Human Rights Watch to file a case against him in court.
Human Rights Watch earlier denounced the more than 1,000 killings committed by the Davao Death Squad since the late 1990s. Police and local government officials were reported to be involved in the targeted killings of alleged drug dealers and petty criminals, street children and others.
Duterte himself has boasted that Davao has become one of the world’s safest cities simply by killing all criminals.
He also said that instead of 1,000 dead criminals, the number might rise to 50,000 or even 100,000 dead if he is elected president. He quipped, “I do not want to commit a crime but if by chance, God will place me there, magbantay kayo. Yung 1,000, magiging 100,000. Dyan mo makita tataba yung isda sa Manila Bay. Diyan ko kayo itapon.”
Text: Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
