PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte stood by the testimonies of the police regarding its anti-drug operations, even after the Senate panels said the November 2016 killing of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa by members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was premeditated.
"If it is done in the performance of duty, I said I support the police and I believe the police rather than other people… The [members of Senate committees who investigated Espinosa’s slay] are not my workers, they are not working at Palace,” Duterte told a press conference on Monday.
"I do not care if there are 1,000 [reports of Senate] committees…. I will defend them (policemen) as long as there is no abuse [of powers]," he added.
According to a Senate joint report, the killing of Espinosa by operatives of CIDG-Eastern Visayas was intentional to cover up their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Espinosa was killed in his detention cell at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail in Leyte, while a team of CIDG led by Superintendent Marvin Marcos was serving a search warrant on the mayor for alleged possession of illegal firearms.
Also killed in the incident was Espinosa's fellow inmate, Raul Yap.
The joint report of the committees on public order and dangerous drugs, and justice and human rights on the Espino slay said the members of the CIDG-Eastern Visayas committed “abuse of authority.”
Duterte played down the Senate joint report regarding the death of Espinosa, saying he assumed full and legal responsibility because he was the one who ordered to arrest drug suspects and kill them if they show resistance.
“That is my order [to hunt down drug personalities and kill them if they resist] and I do not renege on it and I do not deny. That is mine and mine alone,” the Chief Executive said.
The President said he does not grieve the deaths of people who are linked to illicit drug trade.
"You grieve for this idiot, Espinosa? Fine. I said, I do not… My heart does not bleed to anyone who died [in anti-drug operations]. My heart bleeds for Filipinos who are out of their minds that do not function anymore," Duterte said.
"Those who are into drugs, do not ever think I will cry for you. You ruin the lives of the Filipinos… I know, you are ready to go to hell. We can face hell together. Let’s go together," he added. (SunStar Philippines)