Duterte invites human rights groups to ‘take a deeper look’ at Philippine drug situation

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night invited human rights groups to "take a deeper look" into the drug situation in the Philippines.

"You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because 'yan, ito, lumaban talaga. At hindi kasali ang pulis ko na may tama at namatay rin," Duterte said in his weekly address to the nation.

(You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because like in this case, they really resisted arrest. Not mentioned is the police officer who was wounded and had died.)

Citing data from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Duterte said 11 people died during police operations against illegal drugs from June 6 to 13. Some P1.2 billion worth of illegal drugs were also confiscated.

"Kita mo namang negosyo na 'yan. Nakikita na ninyo ang negosyo kaya kung ayaw ninyong tumulong, 'wag na kayo mag-sige takot diyan, takutin niyo ang pulis na sige demanda, demanda, opening of records," Duterte told human rights groups.

(You what the drug business is like. So if you don't want to help, don't frighten the cops with law suits, opening of records.)

"Hindi nga puwedeng i-open 'yan eh. 'Pag in-open niyo baka makita niyo pangalan niyo. Kayo pala nagbibigay ng mga impormasyon sa mga pulis. That's why we cannot show it to you. You might find your name there," he added.

(Those files can't be opened. If you do open them, you might see your names. It might turn out that you provided the cops with information. That's why we cannot show it to you. You might find your name there.)

Duterte also claimed that nothing happened when he was investigated by the Human Rights Commission.

"Itong nauso 'tong human rights investigation, pati ako naimbestiga ako ng Human Rights Commission... walang nangyari, walang rekomendasyon," he said.

(When there was this interest in human rights investigations, the Human Rights Commission even ran an investigation on me. But nothing came of it, there wasn't even any recommendation.)

"Noong sa Senado, sa Congress, naimbestiga ako, wala ring nangyari kasi wala kayong naituro na mali," the president added.

(Even when the Senate, Congress investigated me, nothing happened there either because they couldn't point to anything I did wrong.)

Duterte also renewed his threat to kill people involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Do not destroy my country, I will kill you... Do not destroy the youth of the land. Sirain mo buhay nila, sirain kita. Ganoon 'yan. I will kill you para tapos na ang problema," he said.

(You ruin their lives, I'll ruin yours. That's the way of it. I will kill you so that takes care of the problem.)

On Monday, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested authorization to open an investigation into Duterte's war on drugs, saying there is a "reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder was committed from at least 1 July 2016 to 16 March 2019."

Bensouda said the Philippines has been under a preliminary investigation since the 8th of February 2018 and that her office has been working on publicly available information as well as information provided under article 15 of the Rome Statute of the ICC. — DVM, GMA News