Palace: Ombudsman Morales took Duterte's statements out of context

Malacañang on Friday defended President Rodrigo Duterte amid Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales' sharp criticism on his anti-drug rhetoric, saying Morales has taken the President's statements out of context.

"I think she has really taken it out of context," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during Mindanao Hour in Malacañang.

"Again and again, we have stated how the President expresses himself and that particular statement might have taken out of context."

In an interview with Japan’s NHK World, Morales said Duterte, with his tough talk of eradicating the drug menace in the country, is "goading people to kill," something which she said was not acceptable.

Abella previously told reporters to use their "creative imagination" in decoding Duterte's profanity-laced statements.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Martin Andanar also said that Duterte's threats to kill were said out of frustration on the current situation of the country. —KBK, GMA News