Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas went against the principle of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, saying he believes that no one, not even a president, has the right to take a person’s life.
“I don’t believe that might is right. I don’t believe that the gun trumps all others and I don’t believe in summary justice and one-man justice,” said Roxas before a group composed of local government and civil society leaders and educators at his alma mater Ateneo de Manila University on Friday.
READ: LP dares Duterte: Prove kill claim
Before Roxas, his election opponent Vice President Jejomar Binay delivered a speech and took questions from members of the Galing Pook Foundation.
In freeing a place of crime, Roxas said a leader should not resort to shortcuts by killing criminals.
“Like in all things in life, there’s no magic wand. No abracadabra. Everything that’s worth something and that’s important for us. Kailangan nating pagtrabahuan, kailangan nating pagsakirpisyuhan at paghirapan (We have to work on it, we have to make sacrifices and endure),” he said.
Duterte admitted to killing rapists and kidnappers in Davao City. Before the two decided to run against each other in the presidential race, Roxas and Duterte had met several times in Davao to discuss their political plans.
READ: Duterte openly admits killing 3 criminals in Davao City
In an ambush interview after the forum, Roxas said Duterte never admitted to him that he was killing people to teach criminals a lesson.
“Napagusapan namin ‘yan. Tinanong ko ‘yung accusation na may pinatay siya to discipline them. Ang sabi naman niya sa akin wala siyang pinapatay na tao kaya hindi ko alam saan nanggaling ‘yung sinabi niyang pumapatay siya,” he said.
“Sabihin na lang ang totoo, papatay ba siya ng tao o hindi. Magkaalaman tayo. Magpakatootoo tayo kasi sa akin, at sa iba pa, sabi niya wala siyang pinapatay,” added Roxas.
(We have talked about that. I asked about the accusations that he had people killed to discipline them. He told me he killed no one and he did not know where talks of him having people killed came from.
Just tell the truth, did he have people killed or not. Let the truth out. Let’s get real because to me and to others, he said he had not have people killed.) CDG
READ: Duterte’s Davao City PH’s safest? It’s just a myth, says Roxas