President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the awarding of the outstanding Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel and units during their 26th anniversary celebration at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on July 12, 2017. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The human rights group Karapatan in Southern Mindanao raised concern on the possible increase in cases of human rights violations as President Rodrigo Duterte indicated to the men and women of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology a dubious style in dealing with those involved in crimes, particularly drugs.
President Duterte graced BJMP’s 26th founding anniversary at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday.
As in his previous speeches, the President again displayed anger on criminality, saying that criminals in the country have been shaming the government.
“You know, itong mga kriminal sa Pilipinas ginagawa tayong gago,” he said.
Duterte went on to say: “And to think that we are government, and we have the power even to kill them para matapos na iyong problema.”
But he also insisted that the Philippines is a civilized society and that the government should send criminals to prison for the crimes not punishable by death.
He also lamented on the fact that death penalty is only for the books as its implementation in the Philippines has been suspended.
Duterte also told the BJMP that he is the only president who dared to order to kill.
“Ngayon, sino bang dumaang presidente dito, starting from the time things deteriorated, kung hindi nila kaya at kung hindi ko kaya, walang kakaya niyan. Eh ako lang ang harap-harapang mag-utos patayin mo iyang P***Inang iyan. Sino pa ang iba aber, kung hindi ko kayang, ako na mismo, P***Ina patayin mo iyan, pagkatapos lumaban, [mumbling] basta-basta,” he said.
But beyond his repeated warnings and cursing and explaining the right of the police to defend themselves, Duterte’s statement on forcing criminals to fight may present another challenge to rights advocates.
“Iyang mga media na gunggong putulin man nila iyan, patayin mo, eh di kung iyan ba ang kaligayahan ninyo, di sige do it. Dito is pagka lumaban. Ngayon kung ayaw pang lumaban, di palabanin mo,” Duterte said.
Jay Apiag, spokesperson of Karapatan in Southern Mindanao said such statement is exasperating especially when it is delivered by the President.
“It’s infuriating to hear Duterte’s recent statement on his war on drugs campaign, directing his forces to kill any alleged drug users or pushers who fight back, if not, forcing them to fight back to get killed, especially from a person we once honored for his strong commitment to people’s issues,” Apaig told Davao Today on Thursday.
He said Duterte must understand why human rights advocates are enraged, given the long history of partnership that the President and advocates had advanced, not only on the issue of human rights but also on other concerns and issues of the people.
“Thus, overreacting on this issue is inevitable for us human rights defenders, who for decades have been harassed, tailed, and even killed in defense of our democratic rights. And somehow, this would be the same reaction from Duterte who once worked for the advancement of our rights,” Apiag added.
Duterte also hit human rights advocates during the occasion, saying: “I have to protect the humans before I can even think of doing what for the inhuman.”
“But for all as long as I’m President, tutal nandito na rin ako, you’ll just have to contend with it. You can file any case, saan iyang international court of—bakit, what is wrong?” the President added. (davaotoday.com)
