Duterte hits Sereno anew over warrants for arrest

President Rodrigo Duterte once again called out Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday over the top magistrate's supposed pronouncements over warrants before being arrested.

"Madame Justice, you are again wrong when you said, 'Do not allow yourself arrested to be arrested if there is no warrant.' Dagdagan mo ang patay niyan," Duterte said in a speech during the 10th anniversary of the East Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City.

"It is a very dangerous statement. You will promote anarchy. There is no anarchy under my watch," he added.

Duterte said arrests can be made if the crime is "committed in your presence."

Sereno had drawn Duterte's ire before when she had advised judges tagged by the president as involved in illegal drugs against making themselves "physically accountable" if there were no warrants issued for their arrest.

Duterte responded by threatening to declare martial law, before later apologizing to Sereno.

On Friday, however, he went on another tirade against Sereno.

"Ma'am, I am sorry. But please do not give some statements" he said, noting the success of his war against drugs.

"The streets of Manila are almost free of criminals. Maglakad ka ma'am," Duterte added. —JST, GMA News