Malacañang told Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte that it is unlawful to kill anyone since he was a lawyer, adding Duterte spoke from the heart.
“Alam n’yo po kasi ang mga pulitiko may mga sasabihin ‘yan because they know patok pero meron din silang mga sinasabi na alam nila na ito ‘yung pawang katotohanan,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.
“Kagabi po, I think the President was speaking from the heart. Abogado po ang Presidente, paulit-ulit natin sinasabi ‘yan. Ipinagbabawal ang pagpatay sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas at ating mga batas,” he added.
The Palace official also said the President’s use of “colorful language” was meant to “generate attention and discussion” on issues, especially on his campaign against illegal drugs.
President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday night that he has never killed anyone after claiming on several occasions that he had taken lives before.
“I have yet to find ‘yung sabi nila na idedemanda si Duque dahil may kasalanan. I have read the filings, and for the life of me, I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man,” Duterte said.
Duterte claims he has not killed anyone
“Maraming sinasabi ‘Rule of law, hindi ka naman sumusunod. Marami kang pinapatay.’ Wala ho akong pinatay na tao. Never, never. Magtanong ka sa pulis dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Duterte also said that he has never ordered anybody to kill.
“I never do that. If I do, I just keep it in my mind because I know that whether I like it or not, there is a war going on. I cannot stop the killing of criminals and the killing of my soldiers and policemen,” the President said.
In 2017, the President said that he had stabbed someone to death when he was only 16.
“Rambol dito, rambo—at the age of 16, may pinatay na ako. Tao talaga. Rambol. Saksak. Noong 16 years old iyon, nagkatinginan lang. Eh lalo na ako ngayong presidente na ako. You fuck with my countrymen, ‘di kita papalusutin. Bahala na kayong human rights,” he said.
In 2016, Duterte said he used to join police operations and killed criminals as Davao city mayor to “lead by example.”
