Duterte says death of 2 teenagers doesn’t mean killing is govt’s policy

September 5, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte slammed on Tuesday opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, saying that the deaths of two teenagers did not mean that killing of drug suspects is a government policy.

Duterte made the statement after Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa cried again during a Senate hearing when Hontiveros asked him over allegations that killing drug suspects was the PNP's policy.

The President said Dela Rosa cried because he was hurt over the allegations.

"Do you think two killings, even if it's illegal, would make a policy?...let's say they were really killed, murdered, I asked Hontiveros, 'Is that already a policy? Is that the baseline of a policy? She's really stupid," he said.

Duterte was referring to 17-year old Kian delos Santos and 19-year old Carl Angelo Arnaiz who were slain in separate police operations in Caloocan City.

"That's why he (Dela Rosa) cried. It's an insult to say it's a policy of the police to kill. There are so many criminal minds, even in the Liberal Party," he said.

Hontiveros belongs to Liberal Party, the political party of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Duterte said there was no reason for the policemen to be demoralized.

"The police will never be demoralized. Our soldiers will never be demoralized as long as I’m there," he said.

At the same time, Duterte hit Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog over his offer of P1-million reward to anyone whose information led to the death of alleged drug lord Richard Prevendido.

Mabilog has said that with Prevendido's death, the problem of illegal drugs in his city would be minimized or eliminated.

He said Mabilog, who is on his list of "narco-politicians," was trying to fool people, including him.

He said Mabilog was apparently saying, "I'll give one million (pesos) to whoever could find me."

Mabilog has been denying that he was a protector of illegal drugs. Celerina Monte/DMS