Opposition bets slam Duterte for ‘kill order’ vs Acierto

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Opposition bets slam Duterte for ‘kill order’ vs Acierto
'The wish of the commander is the command to the troops,' says Otso Diretso bet and former Marine captain Gary Alejano

MANILA, Philippines – Opposition senatorial bets slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for his “indirect order” for the police and military to kill whistleblower Eduardo Acierto, the former policeman who linked his former adviser Michael Yang to illegal drugs.

“That’s an indirect order to kill,” said Otso Diretso senatorial bet Florin Hilbay on Wednesday, March 27, in a press conference to endorse all Otso Diretso bets and two others in the Senate race. (READ: Catholic, Christian groups endorse Otso Diretso, 2 other bets)

“That indirect order to kill is an impeachable offense,” Hilbay added.

Otso Diretso bet Gary Alejano also hit Duterte’s statement against Acierto. “‘Pag sinabi niya, ‘Bakit buhay pa ‘yan?’ ibig sabihin totoong pinapapatay niya. Inuutusan niya ang military at pulis na pumatay, kaya hindi coincidence na libo-libo na ang namamatay dahil lang nagmura siya sa publiko,” Alejano said. 

(If he says, “Why is he still alive?” it means it’s true he is ordering him killed. He is ordering the military and the police to kill, so it is not a coincidence that thousands have died just because he cursed in public.)

Alejano, a former Marine captain, added: “The wish of the commander is the command to the troops. ‘Pag nagparinig ang commander mo, gawin mo na (If your commander says something, do it).”

Duterte had said in a speech on Tuesday evening, March 26: “Huwag kayo maniwala dito, lalo na si Acierto. Tanong ko ‘yung military and police, bakit buhay pa ‘yung putanginang ‘yan (Don’t believe this, especially Acierto. Let me ask the military and police, why is that son of a bitch still alive)?”

Acierto is accusing Duterte and the Philippine National Police of ignoring an intelligence report and blocking further investigation into Yang’s alleged drug links.

 

“My conclusion there is that the drug lords have penetrated the upper echelons of government,” Acierto said, adding that Duterte “tolerated them.” 

‘Why want Acierto killed?’

Reacting to Duterte’s remarks against Acierto, Otso Diretso bet Samira Gutoc said that “cowboy language is not what we need right now.” She said, “I am very deeply disturbed.”

Senatorial bet Neri Colmenares, a Duterte critic though not with Otso Diretso, pointed out that there had been an intelligence report about Yang’s alleged drug links as early as August 2017. He questioned why Yang was then named Duterte’s economic adviser in 2018.

An exclusive Rappler report showed Yang was “contracted as Economic Adviser to the President for the period January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018.” A second contract gave Yang the same designation from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. (LOOK: Michael Yang’s calling card bears Malacañang seal)

Colmenares said: “Nilista mo lang ang isang tao sa listahan, patay, kasi mahirap lang ‘yon. Ito may intel report na, hindi lang ito listahan, may intel report na, in-appoint mo pang economic adviser mo? ‘Pag wala ba namang nangyaring milagro doon eh ewan ko lang.”

(You just put a person on a list and he’s killed, just because he’s poor. This one has an intel report about him, not just a list but an intel report, but you still appointed him your economic adviser? If there’s no miracle there, I don’t know what to call it.)

Otso Diretso bet Chel Diokno asked, “Kung hindi naman totoo ‘yung sinasabi ni Acierto, bakit gusto niyang mamatay (If what Acierto says is false, why does he want him to die)?” – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com