Duterte admits: Extrajudicial killings are my only sin

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the oath-taking of the new Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs), the conferment of the 2017 Gawad Career Executive Services (CES), and the 2018 Outstanding Government Workers Awards Rites at the Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace on September 27, 2018, reiterates that he continues to work on fulfilling his promise of getting rid of corruption in the government. RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 27, publicly admitted that his “only sin” is the “extrajudicial killings (EJKs)” that is being tied to his controversial war on drugs.

Duterte made this apparent confession in a speech during the oath-taking of the new Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) in Malacañang.

“Anong kasalanan ko? Nagnakaw ba ako diyan ni piso? Did I prosecute somebody na ipinakulong ko? Ang kasalanan ko lang ‘yung mga extrajudicial killing (What is my sin? Did I steal even one peso? Did I prosecute somebody who I sent to prison? My only sin is extrajudicial killings),” the President said.

While saying this, Duterte, however, reiterated that he was not the one the behind the killings of 4,000 alleged drug offenders, but it was the “ninja cops” or policemen involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Four thousand deaths. When? Where? How? What did I use?” he asked.

“I know that there are policemen that… Ito ‘yung mga ninja na ano (These are the ninja cops). And they are the ones killing,” he added, “It’s an organized crime actually.”

The Chief Executive, in his speech, also lashed out at the International Criminal Court (ICC) which opened a preliminary examination into his war on drugs last February.

“Eh ‘yang extrajudicial killing naman, ‘tong mga u*** lalo na ‘yung itim na sino ‘yon? Sabi ko, p***** i**, huwag ka ihampas ko itong — sa ulo mo iyong prosecutor na ‘yan (That extrajudicial killing, these fools, especially the black person, who is that again? I said, son of a b*tch, I will hit the head of that prosecutor),” he said, apparently referring to ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

“You are actually exercising functions which you are not supposed to do. It belongs to [the] government. At the very least, you are committing usurpation of authority,” he added.

United Nations (UN) special rapporteur Agnes Callamard, whom Duterte earlier threatened to slap if she investigates him for EJKs being linked to his anti-illegal drugs campaign, described the Philippine leader’s latest remark as ‘extraordinary.’

“Extraordinary statement by a Head of State (and we have had many this week at the UN): my “only” sin is #EJK.  Translation: my only sin is imposing unthinkable sufferings on 1000s of vulnerable families, emboldening corrupt policing, destroying rule of law,” Callamard said in a tweet.

Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, also in a tweet, called on the ICC to act on Duterte’s admission of guilt.

“Here’s the President of the Republic of the Philippines, making a public admission of crimes under your jurisdiction. Please act asap (as soon as possible). Thank you,” Hilbay wrote.

Meanwhile, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said that with Duterte publicly confirming the existence of EJK, he “undeniably establishes his clear and direct accountability for the killings.”

“Truly, a fish is caught by its mouth and a foul man by his deeds. Si Pangulong Duterte ang pinakamabisang testigo laban sa kanyang sarili (President Duterte is the most effective witness against himself),” Hontiveros said.

Like any other critics of the Chief Executive, the senator believed that sooner or later, Duterte will be paying the wages of his sin.

The Palace, on its part, came to the defense of the President, stressing that the latter was not serious when he made his remarks.