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CHR alarmed over Duterte's comments vs. COA


The Commission on Human Rights expressed alarm on Wednesday over the comments of President Rodrigo Duterte to kidnap and torture personnel from the Commission on Audit.

In an interview with reporters, CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said Duterte should not even use these words in his jokes or in criticizing a person or entity.

"We do hope that the statements uttered by the President are not serious. We are alarmed though with the use of the words 'torture,' as well as 'kidnapping,'" De Guia said.

"These are serious human rights violations, if carried out, and we do hope that these terminologies will not be used even in the context of jokes and uttered against any one, may it be an ordinary person, a public official, or COA," she added.

On Tuesday, Duterte seemingly joked about kidnapping and torturing COA personnel in front of 4,000 local government officials as he criticized the agency anew over its accountability rules on the spending of government funds. 

“'Yang COA na 'yan. Leche. Kasi 'yung COA, every time, may mali talaga. Ano ba itong COA na ito? Mag-kidnap tayo ng taga-COA, lagay natin dito, i-torture natin dito," he said.

Duterte earlier drew flak for advising local officials to ignore regulations on government spending and joking about pushing COA employees down the stairs.

De Guia hopes the fresh remarks of Duterte will not hamper the duties of COA personnel, saying its fellow constitutional body only ensures the proper spending of government funds as required by its mandate.

The COA said it has no comment on the tirades of the President. —KG, GMA News

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