Duterte wants human rights advocates probed for 'conspiracy'

President Rodrigo Duterte has a new warning to human rights advocates.

In a speech at the 19th anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption in Malacañang, Duterte said he wants to launch an investigation against human rights workers in the country.

“One of these days, kayong Human Rights, kayo ang imbestigahin ko. Totoo. Conspiracy,” he said as some members of the audience applauded.

“You know, when you… Buti na lang ‘yung ano. Sabihin mo pulis, barilin mo na ‘yang kasali diyan. If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them” he added.

Duterte has been the target of local and international rights groups amid the rising death toll in his administration's war on drugs.

The President, who had previously threatened to behead rights workers,  accused rights groups of defending criminals.

“Para makita talaga kung anong klaseng human right... Galit ako sa inyo. Because hindi niyo tinitimpla kung anong klaseng papasukan ninyo. Basta human rights. Eh ilang biktima na dito? ‘Yung lima na namatay, anong… ‘Yung one-year-old na ginulgol doon? ‘Yung human rights diyan nasaan?” he said.

“They could not even utter it in public. ‘Look, do not do that to me,’ sabi ng human rights. Wala. Tapos itong mga criminal, babandera ka, ‘human rights, ano,’” he added.

Duterte slammed Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon, as the President made fresh threats against judges allegedly involved in narcotics.

“Magalit ang human rights pati itong si ulol na mestizong itong si Gascon. Mas marunong pa sa iyo. And they make so much noise,” he said.

“What about the human rights? Hanggang rekomendasyon lang sila. They can write anything. Condemn the police, condemn everybody, pagdating ng recommendation, wala naman,” he added.

Duterte had previously threatened to abolish the CHR, but walked back on his comments by admitting the agency cannot be abolished without changing the Constitution. —JST, GMA News