Lacson slams UN rights chief's remark against Duterte

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday chided the United Nations human rights chief for saying that President Rodrigo Duterte needs "psychiatric evaluation."

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Lacson said the statement of UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein is "uncalled for" and unbecoming of a high official.

"Coming from a high official of the United Nations, mukhang uncalled for, mukhang hindi nararapat lalo't sa kaniya nanggaling. Diba dapat medyo mataas yung level niya, lalo na't sa edukasyon, sa demeanor at lahat?" Lacson said.

For criticizing Duterte's war on drugs, UN human rights officials have been the target of the President's profanity-laced tirades.

In response to Duterte's insolence, Zeid said, "It makes one believe that the president of the Philippines needs to submit himself to some sort of psychiatric evaluation."

But Lacson said, "Mahigit labing-anim na milyon ang bumoto kay Pangulong Duterte at 'yun ay bahagi ng ating demokrasya. Para mainsulto ng isang hindi naman natin kababayan, sa akin parang hindi nararapat." 

This does not mean, however, that it is proper to return the insult to Duterte,  Lacson added. 

"Kung sa tingin nila ay pambabastos yung ginawa ng pangulo, at marami sa atin ganun din ang pananaw, e bakit naman nila gagawin yung sa tingin nila ay maling pananalita? Saan sila lulugar nun?" 

For Lacson, the UN official must draw the line. If insolence is improper, Zeid should not make it proper by returning the insult to Duterte.

"Sinasabi nila mali. Pero sinasabi rin ba nilang tama yung pang-iinsultong ginagawa ng pangulo kasi ganun din ang ginawa niya?" 

Lacson said there are ways for the Philippines to file a protest against Zeid's statement.

"Sa protocol na umiiral, pwedeng magsagawa ng complaint o kaya i-call out yung pahayag na ginawa sa UN Human Rights Council," Lacson said.

Earlier, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that Zeid's remark is an insult to countries with democratically elected leaders.

"Your language was not just an insult to the Filipinos, but to all countries who have democratically elected their heads of states," Roque said.

Last Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said that Zeid's remark was "uncalled for."  —LBG, GMA News