Lacson on shoot to kill order: No such thing, just bravado

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the “shoot on sight” statement of President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa were just bravado or all talk.

“There is no such thing. Kung anuman yung bravado involved dun sa statement, it’s just that,” Lacson told reporters.

“Because being a law enforcement officer, alam naman ni Gen. Dela Rosa  na there is no such thing as shoot on sight or shoot to kill,” he added.

He said the only justification for killing a person is in self-defense or in defense of a stranger or another person. 

“Pagka yung nalagay sa alanganin yung buhay ng law enforcement officer o maski sinong citizen for that matter, pwedeng self defense na pumatay ka ng tao kesa naman ikaw ang mapatay,” said Lacson, a former PNP chief.

Lacson's views came following Duterte’s shoot on sight order against Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son Kerwin who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking. 

Lacson said whatever the reason or motive of the President in making such statement, the police officers know that they cannot just shoot a person.

“Alam niya na hindi niya pupuwedeng gawin yun at hindi pwedeng gawin ng kahit na sinong pulis na basta pumatay o shoot on sight, there is no such thing,” he said.

'Not an acceptable manner'

In a separate interview, Sen. Leila de Lima said shoot to kill is not an acceptable manner and she believes the President knows what is stated in the law. 

“Alam na alam po ng Pangulo kung ano yung naaayon sa batas. That’s all I could say. Alam niya kung ano ang naaayon sa batas. Yung shoot to kill para sa akin kasi hindi na dapat yan, hindi na uso yan,” she said. 

She said killing a suspect should always be a last resort for the PNP.

“There could be resistance kung meron mang no-voluntary surrender at gumamit din ng dahas, ng force, yung subject of the operation, like that mayor. Then, justified yan. But per the PNP operational guidelines, that is the last resort—the use of force,” she said. 

On the report that President Duterte will name more local government officials allegedly involved in drugs, De Lima said she cannot comment because the former knows what he is doing.

“Kung sa tingin niya na at his level, as the chief executive, as the chief enforcer of the law, sa tingin niya yan ang pinaka-effective strategy, yung naming and shaming, then who are we to question that, di ba,” she said.

She said she will just let the people who will  be named to question the President’s action.

“Let the persons concerned, the subjects concerned question that, di ba. Pero yun kasi ang gusto niya...I think it’s part of the strategy—instilling fear, showing resoluteness, determination na ganun, na pinapakita niya na talagang determinado sila,” said De Lima.

“So mahirap kasing payuhan ang Pangulo sa ganyang mga bagay because in his mind, sa kanya yun ang tama at nararapat na strategy. So yung those who feel that their rights are being violated, then they have the proper recourse under the law,” she added.  — RSJ, GMA News