Palace on possible Duterte probe: It is CHR’s duty

MANILA, Philippines – A Palace official on Sunday said investigating the allegations that presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is engaged in extrajudicial killings is part of the duty of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made the statement following reports that CHR is eyeing the formulation of a special team that will conduct probe against Duterte after his public admission that he killed 1,700 people.

Coloma said the palace is only following the rule of law no matter who is involve in the allegations.

“Bilang isang demokratikong bansa, tayo ay tumatalima sa prinsipyo ng rule of law,” Coloma said when asked whether the Palace supports the possible CHR probe.

 “Kaya’t isinasagawa ng CHR ang tungkulin nito na alamin kung may katotohanan ang mga umano’y paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Kahit sino pa man ang tinutukoy, kailangang patas ang pagpapatupad ng batas,” he added.

The Palace official said  the government recognizes every right of the Filipinos including the human rights as protected by the Constitution.

“Kinikilala natin na ang bawat mamamayan ay may karapatan na binibigyang proteksyon ng ating Saligang Batas at iba pang mga batas, kabilang na ang karapatang mabuhay at karapatang mabigyan ng due process sa alinmang aksyong legal,” Coloma said.

Duterte is being called to probe by international human rights group, Amnesty International Philippines (AIP) and Human Rights Watch for alleged involvement in human rights violations and Davao Death Squad.

READ: Int'l group wants probe into Duterte, 'death squad'

On Tuesday, Duterte corrected the AIP report which reportedly mentioned he killed 700 people and told the media that they miscalculated the number as he killed 1,700 people.