Duterte says he doesn’t care about human rights: ‘Si Gascon, sipain ko pa ‘yan’

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened anew Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Chito Gascon, as he defended his administration's war against illegal drugs.

In a speech during a congressman’s birthday celebration Wednesday night, Duterte again promised to rid the country of drugs before his term ends in 2022. 

“'Yang drugs na 'yan, if it fails or if it succeeds now, I will be there to finish it off. At least on the third, fourth year, mawala 'yan. Even if I have to kill, I will kill…Hindi naman 'yang kill na literally maghanap ka lang ng patayin.  But I will order you, before I leave the government, the shabu industry must be destroyed,” Duterte said.

“Wala tayong patawad diyan. Wala ‘yang human rights, wala 'yan. Si Gascon, ah wala 'yan, sipain ko pa ‘yan,” he added.

Duterte’s statement comes just days after he said he would slap Gascon if their paths crossed.

As of posting time, GMA News Online was still awaiting a reply from Gascon for his reaction on the matter.

When Duterte raised the possibility that Gascon was a pedophile in September, the CHR chairman said Duterte’s insinuations were “unfortunate.”

“That the President again has resorted to name-calling and to using hurtful language against me is unfortunate,” Gascon said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Duterte, meanwhile, also defended his administration against criticisms that his brutal war on drugs is targeting the poor.

“Ngayon, ang batas… My purpose, my oath of office says I have to enforce the law against all, whether you are a rich guy or a poor guy,” Duterte said.

“If you happen to be there, caught in the crossfire, pasensya. It’s my job. I cannot select criminals whom I could say, ‘Ah, ‘wag ‘yan kasi mahirap ‘yan. Ito, okay ito kasi mayaman’,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News