Leody De Guzman slams Duterte for refusal to apologize for drug war killings

Labor leader Leody De Guzman on Wednesday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for being unapologetic about the thousands killed in his administration's relentless drug war. 

On Twitter, De Guzman expressed dismay over the Chief Executive's failure to apologize for the "anti-poor" drug war and corruption allegations against Duterte's regime.

"Ang mga isyu ng korapsyon at droga ang nagluklok kay Duterte sa pagkapangulo. Hindi niya ito bibitiwan kahit maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na pumalpak siyang puksain ang dalawang salot na ito," said De Guzman, a presidential aspirant.

(Issues on corruption and drugs helped Duterte get elected as president. He will not let these go even if it is clear as day that he failed to address these problems.)

"Imbes na magpakumbaba sa takipsilim ng kanyang miserableng termino, hindi siya humihingi ng kapatawaran sa libo-libong pinatay ng kanyang kontra-mahirap na gyera sa droga at sa bilyon-bilyong pisong patuloy na nawawala sa katiwalian taon-taon," he added.

(Instead of being humbled in the twilight of his miserable term, he will not ask forgiveness for the thousands who died in his anti-poor drug war and billions of pesos lost to corruption.)

De Guzman also said Duterte is only using these issues so that he will not be a "lame duck."

"Hindi pa para panatilihin ang kanyang tigasing imahe kundi para may pang lyabe siya sa mga kandidatong hinahabol ang kanyang endorsement at maging sa susunod na administrasyon," the labor leader also wrote.

(Not to maintain his iron fist image but to use it as leverage for candidates who are asking for his endorsement and even for those who will get elected in the next administration.)

In a televised address on Tuesday, Duterte said  he will never apologize over the drug-related deaths.

"Kill me, jail me, I will never apologize," he said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) suspended its probe into the drug war following a request by the government to defer its investigation. — BM, GMA News