Gascon to Duterte: ‘Words matter’

FILE: Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Chito Gascon (Photo by Albert Calvelo via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Chito Gascon reminded President Rodrigo Duterte that words matter particularly to those public officials who are holding the highest ranks after he once again received strong remarks from the chief executive.

“Words matter whether spoken in public or in private. This is particularly important to remember when words are spoken by those who are supposed to be our leaders,” Gascon said.

“Wala pong personalan, trabaho lang po tayo pare-pareho sang-ayon sa batas [Don’t take it personally, let’s all just work within the law],” he added.

Citing the numbers of Moro and Christians that were killed and taken by Maute group as hostages during the battle in Marawi, Duterte slams Gascon by saying, “Human rights why are silent (sic)?”

He added, “that’s why you Gascon, p***** i** if I see you, better avoid we cross paths. I will slap you really. I don’t know if you are gay or… either I will kick you. You can’t sue me.” Duterte said during his speech at the 65^th General Assembly of the League of cities of the Philippines.

Gascon, on his part, said that public should be accustomed to Duterte’s hurtful words.

“Now that the President is coming close to 18 months in power, perhaps we have all become accustomed to his fighting or even sometimes his hurtful words. These are often the times when his supporters and defenders say that we should perhaps not take him too seriously or that he is engaged in hyperbole because he is an intellectual and/or a great leader,” Gascon said.

“In this specific instance, I do not know if he means what he says or not,” he added.

Gascon said that CHR will continue to do its function “whatever Duterte’s personal attitude to us might be.”