Press Release
August 3, 2016

Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Ambush Interview

De Lima: ...But the committee has yet to have its initial meeting where we would discuss the priorities of the committee, and including the resolution. We will have to discuss that reso, and there should be a, parang agreement on whether itutuloy o hindi.

But of course, I'm the sponsor of that resolution. And as the chair of the committee, I hope that I would have the support of the majority of the members of the committee na para matuloy yang inquiry na yan.

Q: Do you feel, ma'am, na baka hindi matuloy?

De Lima: Ay no, I feel confident. I feel confident. There might be one or two members na merong reservations, but I feel the majority would support me.

Q: Ma'am, dun sa shoot on sight order ni President Duterte against Kerwin Espinosa, tama ba yun, yan ba yung procedure, shoot on sight if they resist?

De Lima: Alam na alam po ng Pangulo kung ano yung naaayon sa batas. That's all I could say. Alam niya kung ano ang naayon sa batas. Yung shoot to kill para sa akin kasi hindi na dapat yan, hindi uso yan.

Siguro we can interpret it in such manner that... of course there could be resistance kung meron mang no-voluntary surrender at gumamit din ng dahas, ng force yung subject of the operation, like that mayor. Then, justified yan. But per the PNP operational guidelines, that is the last resort--the use of force.

Q: Ma'am, you also mentioned earlier yung name and shame campaign, di ba na-mention niyo before dun sa five police generals. Kasi President Duterte is planning to name 20 plus more mayors...

De Lima: Mahirap naman kasi paibahin na yung ganyang istilo ng ating Pangulo. Kung sa tingin niya na at his level, as the chief executive, as the chief enforcer of the law, sa tingin niya yan ang pinaka-effective strategy, yung naming and shaming, then who are we to question that, di ba.

Let the persons concerned, the subjects concerned question that, di ba. Pero yun kasi ang gusto niya...I think it's part of the strategy--instilling fear, showing resoluteness, determination na ganun, na pinapakita niya na talagang determinado sila.

So mahirap kasing payuhan ang Pangulo sa ganyang mga bagay because in his mind, sa kanya yun ang tama at nararapat na strategy. So yung those who feel that their rights are being violated, then they have the proper recourse under the law.

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