Duterte denies meddling in case vs cops charged in drug killings

President Rodrigo Duterte (KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he did not meddle in the cases filed against policemen, who were accused of killing drug suspects, in order to downgrade their cases from murder to homicide.

Duterte did not cite a specific case but he was obviously referring to the murder charges filed against 19 policemen – including Supt. Marvin Marcos – for the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Homicide, unlike murder, is a bailable offense.

“Harassment? You file a case, you convict. (Justice Secretary Vitaliano) said: ‘Sir, it’s murder,’” Duterte said, obviously referring to the Espinosa case.

Then he recounted that Aguirre later told him it would be homicide.

“I told him file (whatever it is). I did not beg,” Duterte said.

He said he had never intervened in cases involving policemen.

“I never, did I call anyone and asked to absolve anybody?” he asked.

But Duterte said what he can promise is the support law enforcers need if they get into trouble, such as providing them lawyers and financial assistance.

“It’s difficult if they get suspended. They would not have money to feed their families,” he added.

In the Department of Justice’s downgrading of the case against Marcos and the 18 other policemen, Aguirre said he had to stand by the decision.

“We have to stand by the resolution of my department. We have to presume regularity in the performance of our duties,” he had said in a TV interview in May last year.

Aguirre also washed hands over the resolution, saying he did not take part in it.

“I did not sign the resolution. I did not interfere or intervene in the issuance of the resolution,” he added.

In its May 29, 2017 resolution, the DOJ dismissed the two counts of murder against Marcos and members of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in region 8 but recommended that they should be charged for homicide. /jpv

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