President Rodrigo Duterte, escorted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Ricardo Visaya, walks past the honor guards on his arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City on September 30.(MNS photo)
MANILA, Oct 3 (Mabuhay) – Senator Richard Gordon on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte was “falling on his own sword” for being “too noisy” on publicly expressing his desire to have suspected drug users and pushers killed.
“Maingay ang Pangulo, sobrang ingay ng Pangulo. Tama lang na ipakita niya na galit siya sa droga pero huwag na siyang mag-ingay na ‘I will kill you,’ hindi tama ‘yan,” Gordon said.
“Kaya he is falling on his own sword, nadadapa siya sa kanyang espada dahil salita siya nang salita, napagbibintangan tuloy ang bansa na ‘yan ang nangyayari,” he added.
Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice committee, made the statement at the resumption of the probe on drug-related killings.
“Kaibigan ko ang Presidente, pareho kami nag-mayor pero ayokong salita nang salita ang Presidente kung ano gagawin niya. Pero dapat ang sasabihin niya, ‘Masyadong maraming hindi nasu-solve at i-solve ‘yan,’” Gordon said.
The senator told Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa that cops involved in killings should be held accountable.
“Kahit isa lang ang namatay at hindi na-solve ng pulis ang kaso, ang tao matatakot. Kaya siguro tayo tinitira ng foreign media,” he said.
Gordon then took a swipe against international media, and said that foreigners should not be hesitant of visiting the Philippines amid the spate of alleged extrajudicial killings.
“We have to be accountable. To the media here, the foreign media, I don’t care what you say about us. We have not thrown the rule book because the Senate is investigating extrajudicial killings, whatever you want to define it,” he said.
“The law has not been thrown kaya ‘wag kayo matakot sa Pilipinas because the Senate is investigating,” Gordon stressed.
Gordon said at least 1,300 policemen are involved in shooting incidents.
Of the number, some 680 cops have been charged after a motu proprio probe, according to the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP.
Meanwhile, Gordon also took a swipe at Rodrigo Duterte for his foul words, saying in jest that he would soon suggest to change the Philippines’ tourism slogan to “Welcome to the PI.”
“We have to protect the country from bad statements and the President has the duty to be a statesman. He must not be heard saying all bad words,” Gordon, former secretary of the Department of Tourism, said.
“Sasabihin ko nga, baguhin na natin ang slogan sa tourism, ‘Welcome to the PI’ or “Wow PI.’ Hopefully, marinig ni Pangulo ito at ‘huy, baka sumusobra na siguro,’” the senator said.
The suggestion elicited laughter from the gallery and even from Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during the resumption of the Senate probe on drug-related killings. (MNS)