Don’t look at us – Panelo on Tagle’s warning vs arrogant ‘kings’

Arrogant, violent kings? That’s not us.

Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Monday said leaders of the Duterte administration do not feel alluded to by the warning of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle against arrogant kings who employ violence to assert their authority over the weak.

Tagle delivered the message during his Palm Sunday Mass homily, where he asked the faithful if they were ready to follow the Lord.

Panelo said he was sure that Tagle was referring to “world leaders not from this country.”

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA

‘Very humble person’

President Rodrigo Duterte, Panelo said, does not fit the description violent or cocky.

“It’s out of character for the President,” he said.

“He is a very humble person, he is softhearted person who is outraged by any kind of assault on any person, human rights violations. He is one defender of every citizen’s rights,” he said.

Mr. Duterte was just fulfilling his constitutional mandate to serve the people, he added.

Panelo said Duterte administration officials did not feel alluded to by Tagle’s words as well.

The administration’s actions speak for themselves, he said.

No police abuse

“We have not initiated any violence against innocent people. The police officers only respond to any assault on their lives in the process of arrest,” he said.

The President would not tolerate police abuse either, he said. “He keeps on saying there would be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer,” he said.

Mr. Duterte, who tends to resort to profanity, often threatens to kill drug peddlers who, he said, are destroying the country and the youth of the land.