While De Lima sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s use of incendiary rhetoric to inspire policemen to go after suspected drug offenders, she said he might be unwittingly encouraging them to break the law with his condonation of extrajudicial killings.
“Trabaho ng Pangulo na siguraduhin na ine-enforce ang batas at i-motivate ang mga tao sa baba na gawin nang maayos ang kanilang trabaho. Ang problema nga lang, may mga alanganin na statements, with due respect, ang ating Pangulo na nag-e-encourage o nagpo-promote o nagko-condone ng summary killings,” she said in an interview over dzBB radio.
De Lima, a former Justice Secretary and chair of the Commission on Human Rights, said Duterte should choose his words carefully when giving marching orders to policemen on how to pursue suspected drug offenders.
“Dapat 'pag nagsasalita ang ating Pangulo, bagamat hindi natin maaalis ang kanyang estilo, may sarili siyang style na hinahangaan ng karamihan, when he does that, kailangan binabalanse din niya. When he says ‘go after them, be resolute be firm, wag kayo matakot, pero ingat din kayo na 'wag kalimutan ang isinasaad ng batas,” she said.
The President should make it clear that killing suspects in legitimate police encounters should be the authorities’ last resort, De Lima added.
“Killing should be the last resort. Siguraduhin na ‘yung mga namamatay ay yun ay yung talagang nanlaban. Hindi yung lahat na lang nanlaban. Hindi na kapanipaniwala ‘yan,” she said.
Duterte has been using the word "kill" in his statements in pushing for his advocacy against illegal drugs.
He repeated the statement during a speech during the 69th Philippine Air Force anniversary in Pampanga last Tuesday, where he tagged two retired and three active police officials in illegal drugs.
"I have been warning everybody: At the end of my speeches, when I was campaigning for the presidency, I always end it by saying, “Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy the young people of this country because I will kill you.” Kung hindi pa naman sapat sa lahat ‘yan ay ewan ko, what else?" Duterte said in his speech.
Duterte-inspired
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed an increase in the number of illegal drug suspects getting killed in police operations since the May 9 elections.
Former PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor had said that the intensified operations were due to Duterte’s pronouncements about eliminating drugs and criminality in the Philippines.
Mayor, however, clarified that only a small fraction of the total drug suspects neutralized were killed during operations.
The President had promised to give cash rewards to those who will be able to arrest and kill drug lords.
Based on the latest data released by the PNP, a total of 103 drug suspects have been killed by policemen in anti-narcotics operations from May 10 to July 3.
Senate probe
De Lima is set to file this week a resolution calling for a Senate investigation into the series of killings of drug suspects that occurred even before Duterte formally assumed office on June 30.
She said congressional probe could lead to institutionalizing the operational procedures of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies.
The senator said PNP chief Director General Roland “Bato” Dela Rosa will be among the resource persons invited to the Senate probe to shed light on the police’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Asked if she is afraid of possible criticism from Duterte over her plan for a Senate probe, De Lima said seeking an inquiry into drug-related killings is part of her duty as a lawmaker.
“Sa tingin ko naman wala akong ginagawang masama. Karapatan kong magsalita, karapatan ko ring magsagawa ng Senate inquiry as part of my job, as part of my mandate,” she said.
Source
[ GMA ]
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