Duterte hits back at De Lima over ‘attacks’

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte hit back at Justice Secretary Leila de Lima over what he perceived as her attacks on him over his alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).

The mayor also said that while he is ready to face in court the charges from the Department of Justice, de Lima must also prepare for a "cross-examination" from him, GMA Davao reported Wednesday.

"Ngayon na may nagpunta riyan nagsabi... [at] nagdaldal [na miyembro] daw siya ng DDS. File a case in court and let us see. But I want you to take and get a stand and one day, I will make sure that you will have to account for it," he said.

Earlier this week, de Lima said the National Bureau of Investigation is doing a case build-up of the DDS after a supposed witness came forward.

De Lima was also quoted as saying Duterte could be held criminally liable for his ties to the DDS, citing reports Duterte admitted his ties to the group.

But Duterte said the DDS with which he has ties is not the supposed death squad but his "guiding principle," the Davao Development System.

He said the Davao Development System seeks to address the cause of crimes, such as the drug problem in the city.

"Walang DDS, Davao Development System yan. That is my guiding principle. DDS... hindi yung Davao Death Squad.… Who invented those words?" he said.

Under the development system, he said he had challenged police to have their families roam the city's streets at night and early morning and come home not victimized by criminals.

Also, he said criminals killed during police operations are not summarily executed but were killed because they tried to attack authorities.

His responsibility, the mayor said, is to ensure residents' safety and not kill anyone.

'Counter-attacks'

Duterte also said he is ready with his counter-attacks against de Lima.

He questioned the DOJ's failure under her watch to rid the New Bilibid Prison of the drug trade, saying the facility is a hotel and factory for illegal drugs.

"It's a criminal neglect... nariyan, pumapasok sa prison, lumalabas, may droga niluluto sa loob and you have the ... to accuse me (of) extrajudicial [killings]... puro kriminal. So ikaw, you fatten them... Yan ang mahirap eh, inumpisahan mo," he said.

Duterte also said he is eyeing charges against the DOJ over what he called the warrant-less arrest of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

He was referring to the DOJ's defiance in November 2011 of a temporary restraining order by the Supreme Court against enforcing watch list orders barring Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel from traveling abroad.

At the time, de Lima ordered immigration and airport officials to keep Mrs. Arroyo from leaving the country.

"Without a warrant of arrest, without a hold departure order... you kidnap the person then you file a case. But that cannot erase the fact that at the time you committed the very serious crime of arresting the person without legal grounds… korte lang ang makapag-aresto eh," Duterte said.

Duterte also questioned de Lima's alleged removal of incentives for local prosecutors' in the city.

"Instead of running after me, yung papel mo sa opisina mataas na, meron ka pang ginawa na masama. Allowed by law, ang mga fiscal, prosecutor... we receive allowances from the city government. It is legal and it is good because it can help us. Anong ginawa mo? You issued an order, parang prohibiting o discouraging these officials from receiving the city," he said.

"Hindi mo pera yan iha. Hindi pera ng city yan, hindi pera ng mayor yan, pera ng taumbayan yan," he added. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News