Speaking to reporters at Grand Men Seng Hotel Monday, the mayor defended the police action amidst criticisms from the Commission on Human Rights and Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.
By JOHN RIZLE SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
Davao City –Mayor Rodrigo Durtete argued that the Davao City Police rescue operation last week that killed three suspected kidnappers was “legal, proper and most certainly moral.”
Speaking to reporters at Grand Men Seng Hotel Monday, the mayor defended the police action amidst criticisms from the Commission on Human Rights and Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.
CHR chair Etta Rosales called the police shooting “murder” after seeing a video taken from an amateur phone on the scene, while Valte described Duterte’s “shoot-to-kill” order as illegal.
“Shoot to kill does not translate into murder,” explains Duterte. “(A) shoot to kill order and giving of reward are legitimate tools of the government.”
He said he gave the order because he wanted police operations to be “precise” in neutralizing suspected criminals.
He also said that the order was to prevent “criminals from retaliating” which may result to collateral damage.
Duterte added that in last week’s operations where the police engaged with armed suspects, he preferred a “dead criminal” instead of a wounded policeman.
“If they will be shot because they did not shoot a criminal, I will kick them,” Duterte said while complaining of high costs for hospitalization for injured police officers.
Reacting to news that the CHR will conduct an investigation on the matter, Duterte said he is backing up the police even if it means they will “go to jail altogether.”
The mayor advised Rosales and Valte to check “their facts first.”
After watching the video footage of last week’s operation, city police’s counsel Salvador Panelo said there was “nothing there that (was) criminal.”
“The law allows counter-assault,” the lawyer added.
Panelo said the reaction of Rosales was a “cinematic reaction” given that “she was not a lawyer.”
Duterte said if the footage is taken to court, he would ask “Saan galing yung putok? (Where did the shot came from?)”
The mayor then dismissed the video as “good for entertainment”, “hogwash” and “garbage.” At the same time, the mayor challenged interested parties to build up evidence if there was excessive force in last week’s police operation. (John Rizle Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Abigail Valte, babay group, Byebye Group, Commission on Human Rights, davao city, duterte, Etta Rosales, Human Rights, Kidnap for Ransom Group, sally chua
