Pacquiao: Wait for ICC, PH probe results to say if there’s EJK in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — It would be best to await the result of ongoing investigations to say there is extrajudicial killings (EJK) in the Duterte government’s bloody war against drugs, presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday.

“Ongoing ang investigation, respetuhin natin ang investigation,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Teleradyo when asked if he believes there were EJKs in the war on drugs.

(There are ongoing investigations on that, let’s respect that.)

“May investigation tayo dito sa atin, may investigation din sa ICC (International Criminal Court). Hintayin natin ang investigation nila. Doon natin masasabi na may EJK, kung meron man,” he added.

(We have our own investigations here and they also have one in the ICC. Let’s wait for the results then we can say if there is indeed EJK.)

Nonetheless, Pacquiao said drug users in the country are only “victims” of the situation in the country who need to be given a chance.

“Ang hindi dapat kaawaan ay mga trafficker, yung talagang nagma-manufacture ng droga. Yan ay data parusahan ng husto ayon sa batas,” Pacquiao said.

(We should not pity the traffickers, those who manufacture drugs. They should be punished based on what’s in the law.)

Pacquiao has said that he would not stop the ICC from investigating the crimes against humanity cases filed against President Rodrigo Duterte over the controversial war against illegal drugs if he is elected president in 2022.

Pacquiao said the government should “respect” the process of the ICC.

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