Malacañang challenged Vice President Leni Robredo to prove his statement that President Rodrigo Duterte is running a “murderous regime” after a series of police raids that left 9 activists dead.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, if Robredo cannot prove this, she could be charged.
“Kung personal na nakita ni Vice President iyong nangyari, magbigay siya ng ebidensiya kasi ang pananalita niya, parang nakita ng dalawa niyang mata iyong nangyari sa mga patayan na ‘yon,” Roque said in a press briefing.
“At kapag hindi siya magbigay ng ebidensiya, kasalanan din po ‘yan, baka siya ay makasuhan,” Roque added.
Robredo called the simultaneous police raid in Calabarzon a massacre that resulted in the deaths of those arrested who allegedly resisted the authorities.
“The Filipino people deserve better than this murderous regime,” Robredo added.
Some rights groups have condemned the killing of 9 activists, which they described as “tokhang style.”
According to Robredo, most were killed at wee hours and inside their homes.
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Roque dares Robredo to prove Duterte’s ‘murderous regime’
“Pinaslang ang siyam na community organizers sa Calabarzon—karamihan, sa alanganing oras at sa loob mismo ng kanilang mga tahanan—habang anim na iba pa ang inaresto,” said Robredo.
“Tama naman ‘yun dahil armado ang mga NPA na ‘yan. Alangan namang ang iisipin mo pa ay human rights. Isipin na natin kung paano natin sila matalo,” said Esperon.
Groups and activists have already claimed that those killed were not communist rebels.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation are already investigating the incident.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday that they will include the AO 35 Task Force on Extrajudicial Killings investigation into the incident if activists were indeed killed.