Ex-CHR chief's barbs may make me run - Duterte

Published May 29, 2015 3:09pm

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly denied planning to run for president in 2016, but now he says barbs thrown his way by former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales may change his mind.

Duterte referred to reports quoting Rosales as saying she may campaign against him over the issue of alleged summary executions, GMA Davao's Jan Bautista reported Friday.

"After hearing them make challenges, magkampanya raw sila kalaban sa akin. If there are about 1,000 Etta Rosales(es), I will win the presidency. Basta magkampanya lang sila laban sa akin," he said.

He also scored Rosales for claiming he would impose martial law if he became president.

Duterte, a lawyer, said martial law is a mechanism in the Constitution to meet the challenges of rebellion, invasion or lawlessness.

"She is not a lawyer. That's the problem with ignorant people," he said.

The mayor instead questioned Rosales over allegations she got cash advances from Janet Napoles, the suspected mastermind in a multibillion-peso scam involving lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Rosales, who was a party list representative for nine years, denied the allegations.

"I would like to ask her, how many projects sa PDAF niya, napunta doon kay Napoles because in the documents published before, she made cash advances," Duterte said.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima urged the public not to idolize Duterte. De Lima described as "annoying and definitely disturbing" Duterte's admission he has links with the controversial Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Duterte made the admission in an interview on television program Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa. He warned that if elected president, he will run after criminals and that Manila Bay will be the dumping ground for those who break the law.

He said the 1,000 deaths being blamed on him by the New York-based Human Rights Watch will go up to 100,000. "Diyan mo makita, tataba iyong isda sa Manila Bay. Diyan ko kayo itapon," he said.

"Ano bang klaseng mga statements iyan? A public servant, one who is very popular right now like Mayor Duterte and idolized by many, and yet, makes those statements. Iyong iba sa atin, natutuwa pa, lalong ina-idolize si Mayor Duterte. But, is that right? Hindi po tama iyon," said De Lima.

De Lima said Duterte must be held criminally liable for his admission. "Killing is killing, no matter what," she said.

However, Duterte later said that he was merely referring to the Davao Development System.

Duterte also clarified that a supposed video campaign ad that leaked online Thursday is not for the 2016 elections.

He said the ad was used in past elections. In the ad, he is depicted riding a motorcycle and going around Davao City.

But a message on the ad described Davao as the "9th safest city in the world" - a ranking given by Numbeo.com only last April 30.

As of Friday, May 29, Davao ranked 11th on the list. -JOEL LOCSIN/JJ, GMA News

Tags: rodrigoduterte, chrchairlorettaannrosales