MANILA, Philippines —”If it is a joke, then it is not an accusation.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this on Wednesday to defend President Duterte’s recent remark that former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas ordered the ambush of former police general and now Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot.
In a speech in Davao City on Tuesday, Duterte denied involvement in the ambush of Loot. He said it was Roxas who ordered the assault, which Loot survived on May 13.
Panelo earlier claimed that Duterte is “obviously” joking when he issued the remark.
READ: Mar Roxas ordered Loot killed? Obviously, a joke, Panelo says
“I read the transcipt and it appears to me that there’s a sound of this Pssst. So it appears to me that that it was said in jest given the fact that General Loot is a pet peeve of the President because he’s involved in drugs and Mr. Loot is a known protege of Sec. Roxas,” Panelo told reporters in a Palace briefing.
“So I think it was more of an expression of displeasure said in jest,” he added.
The Palace official also said that Duterte’s pronouncement cannot be considered bullying even if it involves someone’s reputation.
“I do not think so. People make jokes. It doesn’t mean you’re bullying someone. If it is a joke, it doesn’t involve a reputation because you are joking about it,” he said.
Duterte has accused Loot along with other former police generals of protecting drug lords, an allegation the mayor vehemently denied.
Aside from Loot, Duterte also accused former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., former National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District Office director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and former Western Visayas Police Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz of drug links.
Loot was believed to be an associate of Roxas, who was defeated by Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections.
Roxas has denied connections with the police officials. /ee
READ: Roxas generals?’ Mar denies ties with accused top cops