Andanar’s statement came a day after Duterte blasted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for intervening in his non-nonsense war against illegal drugs.
Advertisement
“Kung ordinary, once you get hooked on drugs, you must find another one to [get] hooked with you para siya ang magbigay ng suporta (Ordinary people like those living in Tondo, once they get hooked on drugs, they must find someone else to get hooked with them who will also support their addiction)”, he added.
He further warned: “Filipinos are getting killed”. I grieve for so many women raped, men killed, infants raped. The Court looks with alarm at the proliferation of drugs, in a consensus shared with you, Mr. President, that risky drugs have been destroying Filipino lives and families.
“To the Supreme Court-tell me, what is the fastest decision you make on criminal cases?”
In a letter to the President, Sereno said the judiciary shares Duterte’s concern over the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, noting the tribunal is investigating a judge for alleged involvement in the illicit activity. Sereno said only the high court was authorized to discipline members of the judiciary.
“You order me, I will not follow you”.
Sereno told Duterte on Monday that Lorenda Mupas was dismissed in 2007 as MTC judge of Dasmariñas, Cavite for gross ignorance of the law and misconduct.
He added that Duterte did not create a constitutional crisis when he named the judges on his narco-list.
President Rodrigo Duterte respects the separation of powers in government amid fears of a constitutional crisis after he launched tirades against the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice asked Duterte about his source and basis for publicly identifying the judges.
Rene Gonzales, formerly of Branch 7 of the Iloilo City MTC retired last June 20.
Speaking to the military in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, Duterte went into an outburst over Sereno’s letter that branded as “premature” his call on judges allegedly involved in illegal drugs to surrender.
Duterte’s name-and-shame campaign has been criticized even by worldwide communities.
But Fe Zamora, an expert on the Philippine military and senior editor at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said that unlike Marcos, Duterte faces more hurdles before he could declare martial law.
The President defended the list of narco-officials he read last Sunday as “well-grounded”, after it turned out that some people on the list had always been dead or dismissed from the government.
His biggest critic, Senator Leila de Lima, said Duterte should show evidence by filing proper case in court.
The President clarified that he was not accusing the individuals whom he named as allegedly involved in drug sale and that he was merely asking them to surrender and clear their names.
“I have to pour out the sentiment dahil galit ako (because I am angry) because until now drugs are still being laid around”, he said.
The NUJP said this was even worse than Mr. Duterte’s controversial remarks that “most” of the 170 journalists murdered since 1986 deserved their fate for being “corrupt”.
Police also said that the anti-drug campaign has been a success with tens of thousands of people turning themselves in to authorities.
He was also quoted as saying, “I don’t care about human rights, believe me”.
Advertisement
De Lima said being targeted by vigilante groups after being implicated by no less than the President in the illegal drug trade is one of the dangers of such pronouncements.
