Ombudsman took Duterte remarks ‘out of context’—Palace

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacanang on Friday said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales had taken President Rodrigo Duterte’s threats to kill drugs suspects out of context.

“I think she’s really taking it out of context,” President Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace briefing.

“Again and again, we’ve stated about how the President expresses himself and that particular statement may have been taken out of context,” Abella added.

In an interview with Japan’s NHK World that aired Thursday night in the Philippines, Morales said Duterte was “goading” people to kill drug addicts at the height of his administration’s brutal war on drugs.

She further said Duterte’s order for police and even the public to kill drug pushers and users is unacceptable.
“You know, they try to rationalize whatever he says so whether or not the police or whoever he addresses these words believe him. That’s a different story. The directive to kill people under any situation irrespective of the context to me, that’s not acceptable,” she said.

Asked about her statement, Abella dismissed Morales’ remarks, saying “That’s her opinion.”

READ: Ombudsman Morales: Duterte ‘goading’ people to kill

This, however, was not the first time that Duterte and his men claimed misunderstanding of the President’s pronouncements.

Malacañang officials had earlier said the President’s threats were merely an “expression of frustration.”

READ: Duterte just frustrated, Palace says of threats

Duterte had earlier admitted that only two out of every five statements he makes were true. He said the rest were merely jokes.

“Eh, sa limang salita, dalawa lang ‘yung tama niyan, ‘yung tatlo puro kalokohan ‘yan (Out of my five statements, only two are true, the rest are foolishness),” he said during the 115th anniversary of the Bureau of Customs in February. IDL

BACKSTORY: 3 of 5 Duterte remarks ‘foolishness’