Press Release
October 8, 2016

Gordon to UN: Probe Chicago killings too!

Senator Richard J. Gordon has questioned the reason for the United Nations (UN) appearing to pick on the Philippines due to the rising number of killings in the country but is quiet about the killings in President Barack Obama's home city, Chicago, USA.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on the recently reported killings in the country, Gordon pointed out that, as of October 1 this year, there have been 545 killings in Chicago, which is but one city in the US with a population of 2.9 million.

"Nabasa ko ito. Chicago is where President Obama comes from. That was his district. Doon sya galing. Alam niyo ba na in 2016, the City of Chicago has become the crime capital or the murder capital of the United States of America? Bakit hindi ginugulpi ng UN iyan? Bakit hindi ginugulpi na andaming namamatay, presidente pa ng Amerika iyan, dito, presidente ng Pilipinas taga-Davao, bakit ginugulpi naman ang buong Pilipinas?" the senator pointed out.

"As of October 1, 2016, there have been 545 killings in Chicago--545! In the Philippines, sa atin, tatlong libo. The whole country with 42,000 barangays, 1,490 municipalities, you have 3,000 killings. Isang siyudad lang sa America limang daan apat na pu't lima, sa atin tatlong libo sa buong Pilipinas. Tama po ba iyan? Kahit na papaano, hindi parehas. Hindi ho ba? When you compare the statistics, one nation against one city, mukhang tagilid, ano? " he added.

While stressing that he is not defending anybody in mentioning the Chicago killings, Gordon said the UN should also investigate the situation in Chicago, at the same time gave assurances that the Senate is already investigating the killings in the Philippines to ensure that the rule of law is being followed and the rule book has not been thrown out the window.

"So ang tingin ko, one dead is one dead--too many, sobra, kailangang imbestigahin. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Hindi naman tama iyon. We have not thrown out the rule book. Because the Senate is investigating extrajudicial killings whatever way you want to define it. The law has not been thrown out the window. Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa Pilipinas because the Senate is investigating," he said.

Reports said a United Nations rights rapporteur, Agnes Callamard, has disclosed intentions to visit the Philippines to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on crime, but was seeking security guarantees for people she planned to speak with.

Callamard said that she would insist on a range of measures to ensure that those who spoke with her did not face retribution.

Duterte earlier said he would allow UN and European Union experts to look into the reported killings since he took office on June 30, however he also challenged them to face him in public debates.

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