President Duterte questions human rights boss over youth concerns
Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) if he was a paedophile due to his focus on the killing of teenagers in the Government’s bloody war on drugs. Mr Duterte also suggested to lawmakers using CHR’s proposed $16.5 million budget to buy body cameras for the Police if they don’t want to restore funding for the agency, which he has clashed with repeatedly over his anti-drugs campaign.
The CHR requested a budget of $41.9 million for 2018, but the government proposed $16.5 million instead.
Mr Duterte’s allies in the lower house of Congress then voted to allocate it just $24, in what critics of the drugs war said was retaliation for its efforts to investigate thousands of killings in the past 15 months, including those of two teenagers in August.
“Why is this guy so pre ... suffocated with the issue of young people, especially boys? Are you a paedophile?” Mr Duterte asked, referring to CHR head Chito Gascon.
CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the President’s remarks deviated public attention away from a critical human rights issue in the country.
“These are remarks that do not show respect for the dignity of others. The public must understand that the death of children concerns us all as they are especially vulnerable and need state protection.” Mr Duterte also accused Mr Gascon of being a spokesman for the opposition and criticised his scrutiny of police anti-drug activities. “Why can’t you move on to other issues that are besetting this country?” Mr Duterte said, citing the suffering of the people in the besieged southern city of Marawi.
Critics say Police are executing suspects, and say the government has what is effectively a kill policy.
Mr Duterte has rejected that, and Police say they kill only in self-defence.