DILG chief: Duterte strongly adheres to rule of law, due process

THE government has nothing to do with the spate of extra-judicial killings, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said on Wednesday.

“Ang mga nangyayari ngayon na mga extra-judicial killings, hindi ‘yan kagagawan ng gobyerno,” Sueno said.

Despite his tough stance and pronouncements to kill criminals, President Duterte  strongly adheres to the rule of law and due process, according to Sueno.

“The President adheres to the rule of law; he wants due process. He does not want extra-judicial killings,” Sueno said in his speech during the culminating activity of the European Union-Philippines Justice Support Programme.

He said that during their Cabinet meetings, Duterte would always remind them to adhere to the rule of law amid the government’s relentless drive against illegal drugs.

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said there had been 1,067 killings by unidentified individuals and 712 killings by police since July 1, when Duterte took office.