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Former president Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that it he is wondering why the Department of Justice has not yet filed criminal charges against him, saying that he has been killing people for a long time.
“Nagtataka ako hanggang ngayon ang Justice department, hindi pa nag-file ng kaso hanggang ngayon. Katagal na, katagal ko na… matagal na akong pumapatay ng tao, hanggang ngayon, hindi pa sila nagfa-file ng kaso?” Duterte said during Day 1 of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee probe on the drug war.
(I am so puzzled as to why the Justice department has not yet filed a case. It has been so long…I have been killing for the longest time and until now, there is no case filed against me yet.)
Duterte made the response after Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called on the DOJ to take note of the former president’s admissions during the Senate probe of ordering killings.
“Huwag na tayo mag-drama dito. Tapusin na natin itong istorya nito rito sa Pilipinas. Kapag inutusan ko itong mga buang na ito, kung anong mangyari, akin ‘yan,” Duterte added.
(Let’s cut the drama. Let’s end this story. If I make an order to these crazies, that’s on me.)
Duterte, however, later clarified that he orders the police to kill criminals.
“Ang ibig kong sabihin patayin niyo ang kriminal. Wala akong sinabi na pumatay kayo ng inosente,” Duterte added.
(What I meant was that you should kill criminals. I did not say you should kill innocents.)
Duterte and other top officials of the Duterte administration are already being investigated by the International Criminal Court in connection with the alleged commission of crimes against humanity for systematic drug war deaths in police operations during his tenure.
These deaths reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths reached as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings, due to Duterte’s policy. — BM, GMA Integrated News