Leila on latest Rody rants: It’s Fentanyl-induced

MANILA, Philippines - The insults hurled by President Duterte against the United Nations human rights chief were drug-induced, Sen. Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima said Duterte could have taken Fentanyl when he ranted at UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, calling him a “joker” and an “idiot.”

De Lima said Duterte’s statements now appear to be “Fentanyl-induced.” She was referring to the powerful painkiller that Duterte earlier admitted to be taking to lessen the pain of migraine and spinal injuries.

De Lima said the drug has side effects on the brain.

“The Cabinet should seriously consider declaring him unfit to perform the duties of the President and relay such opinion to Congress, in order to save this nation once and for all from the ramblings of a madman,” De Lima said.

“No one is above the law. Not even the President, no matter how much he wants us to believe he is this invincible embodiment of virility and machismo. He is but a man – a man subject to laws as much as he is vulnerable to human ailments such as, in his case, migraines and dependency on drugs like Fentanyl,” she said.

De Lima said it was both lamentable and surprising that the UN rights chief had to call on local authorities to do something when Duterte himself boasted that he had roamed the streets of Davao to kill people, serving as a “monstrous role model for killer cops.”

She said Duterte may be covered by presidential immunity from suit but he can still be investigated.

De Lima said anybody, no matter how high the position he or she may hold, may be investigated for any crime.

“It’s just a matter as to when an otherwise immune official may be formally sued, that is, after incumbency. Even then, the applicability of the doctrine of presidential immunity from suit relative to mass murders is worth testing at this point,” she said.

De Lima, who has been very critical of the President’s war against drugs, has repeatedly condemned the killings taking place in the country.

She has expressed her concern over how the President has condoned the killings and even appears to be encouraging them, all in the name of the war against drugs.

Hussein has called on the Philippine authorities to investigate Duterte for murder because of the bold claims he made.

Hussein was just one of the many international personalities who have expressed concern over the summary killings taking place in the country.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama also raised his concerns about the killings, leading Duterte to curse him in public.

Even acclaimed singer-songwriter James Taylor made a political statement regarding the killings by announcing his decision to cancel his concert in Manila next year.

De Lima said these personalities cannot be blamed for airing their concerns about the killings since the issue has already gained worldwide notoriety.

“We even cheer a serial killer for murdering people! Is that how distorted our notions of right and wrong have become?” De Lima added.

Not a debate

Duterte said the UN official cannot dictate on him, saying the international body is being funded by sovereign nations like the Philippines.

Duterte explained that member-nations like the Philippines pay contributions to sustain the operations of the UN, the employer of Hussein.

Duterte offered the UN human rights officials to visit the country and investigate the claims of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

But he said the investigation must be open and challenged the UN officials to a debate where he would answer the allegations before the public.

The UN human rights officials led by special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard said it would be inconsistent with the terms of reference and the code of conduct for special rapporteurs.

Callamard urged the Philippine government to reconsider its demand for her to engage Duterte in a public debate.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the country visit of the UN special rapporteur should not be seen as a form of contest or debate.

Urging the government not to cancel the invitation to Callamard, the CHR said the reason for the country visit is to examine and identify good practices of the government with the anti-drug campaign.

“It is neither a debate nor a contest but rather a serious attempt of improving the Rapporteur’s understanding of a particular situation, and enabling the mandate to formulate evidence-based recommendations for strengthening implementation of human rights conventions by the State Party,” the CHR said in a statement.

“A total withdrawal of the invitation is an aggravation to the Filipino people and an affront to human rights. The rule of law cannot be dispensed with,” it added.

The human rights commission expressed “grave disappointment” over the reported decision of the Philippines to cancel the invitation to Callamard after she refused to comply with the conditions set by President Duterte.

The Duterte administration had demanded that she allow the President to question her or other members of her team while under oath.

“I have suggested to the Government of the Philippines that the standard private debriefing with the government, at the end of the mission, could be followed by a joint press conference with President Duterte and myself,” Callamard said of the conditions.

“This press briefing would be an opportunity for me to introduce briefly my preliminary findings and for the President to offer his own analysis, reply or rebuttal,” she added.

Callamard said such a format would exclude a debate between her and Duterte, but will still allow the President to immediately make public his initial reactions to the preliminary findings and her to uphold the principles that must guide her mission.

In a letter to Malacañang on Dec. 15, Callamard said she highlighted the rapporteurs’ principles of independence and confidentiality.

“I have also referred the Government to Article 3.f of the Code of Conduct which clearly request that I shall not seek or accept any instructions from any Government or other actor and to Article 5 regarding the solemn declaration I have made upon prior to assuming my functions,” she added.

CHR said the demand of the Duterte administration for Callamard to participate in an open forum is unnecessary since they will have the opportunity to engage with her during the conduct of the visit.

“The ultimate goal of the investigation is to ferret out the truth and to get both sides of the situation,” the CHR said.

It maintained that investigations, such as the one to be conducted by Callamard, must be allowed to continue, as it is a true test of the country’s democracy.

“The CHR rallies the Philippine government to allow and accommodate the fact-finding mission of the UN Special Rapporteur on the spate of summary executions in the country, and to recognize that human rights treaty bodies play an important role in guiding States towards the full implementation of human rights treaties of which the Philippines acceded to,” it added. –Janvic Mateo, Marvin Sy