Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO
In pushing for an “iron fist” and “fearless” application of the law, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he and presidential aspirant, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, are not proposing for extrajudicial killings.
Cayetano, Duterte’s running mate, made this clear on Monday when he reiterated the three immediate changes that they intend to do in the event they both get elected in 2016— which are the peace and order, inclusive economy, and equality under the law or respect for the law.
On peace and order, the senator said they intend to accomplish it by using political will, iron fist, and “firm, fair and fearless application of the law,” which he said includes cleaning the ranks of the Philippine National Police and law enforcement agencies.
“So hindi pa tayo nagpo-propose ng extrajudicial killing; hindi tayo nagsasabi na lalabas tayo sa batas, hindi natin sinasabi na dapat may vigilantes,” Cayetano said.
“Ang sinasabi natin, just by imposing the law fairly, just by applying the law, pwede na ‘to. Ang problema nga, yung corruption sa pulitiko, sa pulis, yung takot ng ibang police na makipagsabayan sa mga makapangyarihang sindikato dahil sila pa ang nakakasuhan later on ay ang batas ang solution dyan.”
“Through Mayor Duterte’s leadership in Davao, simple niyang sinabi na apply the law, so ‘pag lumaban, barilin niyo na pabalik, and this shows the political will…” the senator added.
Cayetano said Duterte’s message was clear: The government should not be afraid to use the law when it’s called for.
“He’s not saying that we will go wild at basta’t suspect ‘yan, barilan na; hindi po. Let’s not mistake the way na kwento niya ‘yung narrative to the substance,” he said.
He said the mayor only shows no mercy to criminals and those who are not following the law.