Duterte says Bato not to blame for killing of Korean bizman

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte came to the defense of embattled Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa, saying he is not to be blamed for the killing of a South Korean businessman inside Camp Crame.

 

Duterte said there was no criminal intent on the part of Dela Rosa when South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was kidnapped and killed by policemen.

 

“There are two ways of committing crime under the revised penal code. What are they? Felony, malice or negligence,” the president said during Dela Rosa’s 55th birthday celebration last Sunday in Camp Crame.

 

“From the looks of it, I do not see any criminal intent, really on the part of Dela Rosa and the rest of the group. Who would want that to happen inside your camp? None,” he added.

 

Calls for Dela Rosa to quit mounted after the Justice department revealed that Jee was killed inside Camp Crame, a few steps away from his office, last October.

 

In his affidavit, co-accused SPO4 Roy Villegas claimed Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel strangled Jee to death.

 

The Justice department has approved the filing of kidnapping and homicide charges against Sta. Isabel, Villegas and five others believed to be involved in the kidnapping and murder of the businessman.

 

Last week, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez asked Dela Rosa to resign, saying the heinous crime was an insult and “a clear indication that he has lost the respect of his people.”

 

Dela Rosa, who claimed to be melting in shame because of the killing of Jee inside the PNP’s main headquarters, said he is ready to leave his post if the president asks him to do so.

 

Dela Rosa confirmed last Sunday that he has offered to resign from his post but Duterte did not accept it.

 

“Bakit ka magreresign? Anong kasalanan mo? Magtrabaho ka (Why will you resign? What is your fault? You work),” the PNP chief quoted the president as saying.

 

Asked why Duterte retained dela Rosa as PNP chief despite the controversy, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said: “Simply because he understands that whatever happened… speaks about the concerns that he had regarding crime and corruption — and also crime and corruption in government institutions.”

 

“The individuals involved were not part of the PNP chief’s team and these matters are exactly what the president has said, that there is corruption in — within the institutions,” he added.

 

Abella said those who are criticizing Duterte for retaining Dela Rosa “misunderstand the situation.”

Duterte also assailed critics of his anti-drug war during Dela Rosa’s birthday celebration last Sunday.

 

He said human rights advocates who are complaining about the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects are trying to limit his campaign against the narcotics trade.

 

The president reiterated his warning against drug lords, whom he said do not have the monopoly of evil in the world.

 

“They have to realize they do not have the monopoly of evil in this world. We are in the government but that does not mean we cannot do anything,” he said.

 

“Which is the lesser evil now?  The ones cooking shabu and feeding them to our children or we who are killing them?”

 

Duterte threatened to use his presidential barge to throw drug lords at the Pasig River.