‘I don’t go for that salvaging s***’

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the rash of killings in the metropolis, President Duterte said he is not condoning the killing of helpless people regardless of any criminal involvement.

“It’s true that there could be salvaging... (On cases) where the victims’ hands were tied behind their backs, I don’t go for that kind of s**t,” Duterte said.

While he is seen to be encouraging killings by lawmen anchored on self-defense or suspects resisting arrest, Duterte said he does not buy excuses where the victims are killed after raising their hands in surrender.

Suspects who have surrendered peacefully should not be killed, he stressed.

He issued the statement amid calls for justice by the family of John dela Riarte, the motorcyclist who was killed by members of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) after a traffic accident in Makati City last Friday.

Explaining the killing, the HPG members claimed Dela Riarte, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, had resisted arrest. Dela Riarte was shot in the neck, chest and the waist.

There were also numerous cases of summary executions where victims were hogtied by supposed vigilante groups.

The National Bureau of
 Investigation (NBI) has summoned the two constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the couple who got into trouble in traffic with Dela Riarte.

The NBI has called on MMDA constables Bayani Batac III and Jeslie Manlangit, both identified in the police report detailing how Dela Riarte was accosted by Police Officer 3 Jeremiah de Villa and PO2 Jonjie Manon-og of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).

The NBI also summoned Eric Felix Fajardo, the owner of the Mitsubishi Lancer that Dela Riarte accidentally bumped.

Dela Riarte was riding his motorcycle along EDSA-Estrella in Makati City when he bumped Fajardo’s car.

On Tuesday, HPG Senior Supt. Flor Torres submitted to the NBI two copies of video footage showing the events leading to Dela Riarte’s arrest.

A cellphone video shown on GMA-7 showed Dela Riarte being punched and slapped by an HPG cop while handcuffing him.

The video showed Dela Riarte shouting apparently due to pain. The footage was reportedly taken by a passenger inside a passing vehicle.

Another video shown on ABS-CBN captured Dela Riarte’s arrest shown from inside a car, apparently owned by Fajardo, according to the police report.

Dela Riarte was seen sticking his tongue out at the one shooting the video.

NBI officials refused to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is set to present to the NBI its witness who would also give a copy of video footage showing Dela Riarte’s arrest.