I don't need to explain why I reinstated Marcos, Duterte says

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said he doesn't need to explain to Filipinos why he ordered the country's top cop to reinstate Superintendent Marvin Marcos as Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief in Eastern Visayas. 

Duterte said that as chief executive, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is under his supervision and he could modify, amend and revoke any order.

"I do not have to explain to you, the whole republic and the critics, why I made the order for him (PNP chief) just to sit down and do not remove him (Marcos)," Duterte said on Monday at the traditional lighting of Christmas tree at Malacañan.

Last Thursday, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted that a “higher official” who is also his “kumpare” asked him to reinstate Marcos who was relieved from his post for allegedly accepting drug money from self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

That same day, Sen. Leila de Lima said an unnamed source tagged special assistant to the president Christopher Go as the one who called Dela Rosa. On Friday, however, Duterte admitted that he was the one who made the order, saying he was doing an "investigative job."

RELATED: Palace: Duterte not protecting drug lords

No breach of protocol

The president also said that he did not breach protocol when he made the order.

"Protocol?... I ordered the transfer or the retention, you ask me about protocol. There's no such thing as protocol. Congress and Supreme Court wala tayong pakialam but as president I do not have to give you the rationale or the reason why I ordered your reinstatement right away," he said.

He also said there's no need to ask about the purpose behind his move as it is within his discretion, referring to the assumption that he knew about the operation of Marcos' unit against alleged narco mayor Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. The mayor was shot inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail for allegedly resisting arrest.

"I promised the police and the military: Do your duty, go out and find these criminals, arrest them if possible but if they offer a violent resistance and you think that your life is in danger, patayin mo," he said.

He said he believes the police when they said that the late mayor resisted arrest.

RELATED: CHR finds more anecdotal evidence suggesting cops moonlight as vigilantes

Duterte also told his critics to go to the streets and demonstrate if they want.

"So if you want to do something about it fine. You want to demonstrate? I give you the streets 365 days a year 30 days in a  month 7 days, including Sundays, you can demonstrate just do not do violent things," he said.