President Rodrigo Duterte defended the national police anew on Tuesday, after their chief cried foul over claims that government is pursuing a "policy" to kill drug suspects.
"Kaya umiyak 'yung tao nga eh. It's an insult na sabihin it's a policy of the police to kill," Duterte said. He spoke to reporters after attending the 55th anniversary of Metrobank in Taguig,
[Translation: It's an insult to say it is a policy of the police to kill. That was why he cried.]
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa cried during Tuesday's Senate investigation on the deaths of two teenagers in police operations, after Senator Risa Hontiveros said there is a "system to the killings."
Bring media along to police operations
Duterte suggested that police bring the members of the media along during their operations to see what happens.
"Paunahin mo sila so that they can get the story from the beginning to the end. Kasi kung papasukin lang at tapos na ang barilan, sabi naman niyo, 'Ah, tinapunan lang 'yan ng baril diyan,'" Duterte said.
[Translation: Allow the media to go in first so they can get the story from the beginning to the end. If you ask them to go in after the exchange of gunfire, they are going to accuse you of planting guns.]
Earlier during the hearing, Dela Rosa denied once again that it was a state policy to kill drug suspects. However, he said the deaths of a few suspects are expected. This, after Senator Hontiveros told the PNP chief that she was asking accountability from the President.