Dela Rosa defends Duterte's 'kill' orders, says these are 'hyperbolic'

Senator Ronald dela Rosa has defended the supposed "kill, kill, kill" statements of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that these are "hyperbolic" and that the chief executive would not issue illegal orders.

Dela Rosa made the remark as Senator Richard Gordon made an interpellation on the Senate national defense panel's report on the issue of red-tagging.

During the plenary session on Tuesday, Senate panel chair Panfilo Lacson called on Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, to explain how the police and military interpret the President's orders.

This was after Gordon had expressed concern on the recent killing and arrest of activists in Calabarzon, which he said took place days after the President ordered to "kill and finish off" communist rebels.

"'Yung aking basic foundation diyan is alam ko he is a lawyer, naging fiscal siya, naging prosecutor siya, hindi siya magbibigay ng order na illegal. 'Yung kanyang mga hyperbolic o 'yung kanyang mga sinasabi na mga... sometimes 'yung mga taong hindi nakakakilala sa kanya ay mami-misinterpret ang kanyang sinasabi," Dela Rosa explained.

"Ang gusto lang niya doon ay magbigay siya ng emphasis sa kanyang orders na he really means business. But hindi niya sinasabi na gawin ninyo illegal para ma-carry out ninyo 'yung orders ninyo," he added.

Gordon, however, was alarmed over Dela Rosa's explanation, saying that a "hyperbole" could actually turn into a "hyper disaster."

"On the field sometimes you cannot look at the crystal ball and say this is what he really intended," he said.

"And what happens is even if that's not what he intended, if somebody dies, he would still be liable, even if he did not intend to inflict harm or death, he would still be liable," he added.

Gordon is concerned that the President's words may not be easily interpreted.

"My worry is when the commander in chief says something, there's no room for interpretation and he must be clear," he said.

For his part, Lacson said military officials should "exercise sound discretion" in interpreting the President's statements.

"Whenever the President with all his bravado —alam naman natin ang Presidente kapag nagsalita 'kill, kill, kill,' 'shoot to kill' — but it's not really what he meant," he said.

"As per our experience, we would hear the President clarifying himself but after the damage has already been done," he added.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana maintained that the operations in Calabarzon, which resulted in the killing and arrests of activists, were legitimate and pointed out that the issuance of search warrants is as difficult as getting arrest warrants.

"There is deposition of witnesses and the examining judge has to make probing questions. Serving of warrants also requires the presence of at least 2 witnesses,” he told GMA News Online in a text message.

“The operations at the least were legitimate. On the strength of search warrants, the police simply responded to the call of our communities to be protected from individual persons found with illegal possession of firearms and explosives,” he added.—AOL, GMA News