CHR chief lambasts Duterte's death threat for being 'utak pulbura'

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Etta Rosales once again criticized Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who threatened anew that he would kill rice smugglers in his city.

Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Rosales reminded Duterte that as an elected public official, he should not take the law into his own hands.

"He is paid taxpayers' money to do the job of administration and governance over his jurisdiction, which is the city. And that means that he should abide by the rule of law," Rosales said.

Instead of making death threats, Rosales advised Duterte to just say that he will arrest the smugglers right away and "let the full weight of the law be inflicted" upon them.

"[W]hen you take shortcuts, that is already unlawful," the CHR chief said. "You are actually sending the wrong signals to invite lawlessness, vigilantism, utak pulbura that result in torture cases like the wheel of torture taking place in Biñan (in Laguna)."

Rosales was referring to the wheel of torture game allegedly perpetrated by 10 policemen in a detention facility in Biñan.

On Monday, Duterte appeared in a Senate committee hearing and asserted that businessman Davidson Bangayan and alleged rice smuggling king "David Tan" are the one and same person.

Duterte said he would not hesitate to kill Bangayan if he sees the businessman smuggling rice in his city.

"If this guy (Bangayan) will go to Davao and start to unload [smuggled rice] and nakita ko siya... I will gladly kill him," Duterte said.

Rosales said Duterte's fiery statements remind her of the American Wild West days when cowboys and Indians will engage in clashes.

But the CHR chief admitted that these statements have made the Davao City mayor famous.

"Ganoon siya, eh. Macho," Rosales said. "He is popular because he takes on a populist approach. He reflects the sentiments of the people."

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Duterte's "colorful language" should not be taken as a serious threat, since the mayor might just want to highlight that Davao should not be used as venue for rice smuggling.

"Siguro yan naman, we should take it as bravado (brave talk) rather than a serious threat na pag ginawa mo yun, papatayin kita," Drilon said.

For its part, Malacañang, reminded Duterte that "all government officials, whether local or national, have the basic responsibility to uphold the rule of law."