Duterte’s words ‘have the effect and weight of policy’ – Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, September 6, fired back at the President after he said the killing of two teenagers by police did not constitute government policy.

In a statement, Hontiveros said that “while two deaths do not make a policy, thousands of dead, without remorse, regret, or action from the government, do,” with most of the deaths coming from the ranks of the poor.

“May intensyon, may nagdikta, may sistema at polisiya sa likod ng mga patayan. (There is intent, there is someone dictating it, and there is a system and policy behind the killings.) How could the number of dead reach such catastrophic levels if there is no guiding principle and policy behind it?” Hontiveros added.

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, September 5, Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said he felt alluded to when Hontiveros then referred to the existence of a policy that supported the killings. He turned emotional and vehemently denied there was such a policy.

“Wala kaming pinapairal na policy na malawakang pagpatay – mamatay man ako ngayon,” Dela Rosa said. (We are not implementing a policy of extensive killings – even if I die today.)

Hontiveros however said in her statement that the Duterte government acknowledged this policy. The President’s spokesperson justified the deaths of suspects in Bulacan, Caloocan, and Manila last month by saying there was “rhyme and reason” behind the killings.

The Chief of the Public Attorney’s Office also said there was a pattern to the killings.

“The truth is, the President has a well-documented record of encouraging violence against drug dependents and suspected drug pushers,” Hontiveros said.

“‘Shoot suspects if they fight back, make them fight if they don’t’, ‘kill all criminals’, and ‘makapatay lang tayo ng (If we can only kill) another 32 every day, then maybe we can reduce what ails this country.’ When they come from a President, these are not just words. They have the effect and weight of policy. Understanding this idea is the reason why presidents and heads of state practice diplomacy, because they are keenly aware of the effect their words have on their citizens, much more on the state’s uniformed services,” she added.

Hontiveros called on members and leaders of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to redeem the police force’s integrity and reputation “by rejecting the policy that encourages the culture of killing.”

Duterte has since said he does not condone the killing of young people in the name of his drug war, while Vice President Leni Robredo called on the PNP to prove the state does not sanction extrajudicial killings. – Rappler.com