Duterte: Congress must respect dignity of Cabinet men, uniformed officials

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte ordered yesterday Cabinet members and uniformed officials to walk out of congressional hearings if they experience humiliation and if their dignity is disrespected by lawmakers. 

Duterte said he would not allow his officials to suffer the fate of former Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes, who committed suicide in 2011 following a Senate inquiry on allegations of embezzlement and corruption.

During the 2011 hearing, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, now a critic of Duterte, had told Reyes he “did not have any dignity.”

“My orders would be if that you are degraded, stand up and walk out,”  Duterte said during the 20th anniversary of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club in Manila.

“If you are arrested, I will object. If they do not let you go, I will go to Congress,” he added.  

Duterte made the remark hours after his long-time aide Christopher Go and other military officials faced a Senate hearing on a Navy frigate acquisition project.